The Tribute Money. Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish. Also called "The Ferry Boat to Antwerp" by Jacob Jordaens
Jacob Jordaens’s painting, *The Tribute Money. Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish* (c. 1620), housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, famously tells two stories at once. It depicts the biblical miracle of Peter finding a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay a tax, a moment of divine provision.
Yet, to some 17th-century viewers, it was known as *The Ferry Boat to Antwerp*, a vivid genre scene of daily life. Jordaens, who lived his entire life in Antwerp, was a master at capturing both grand narratives and the bustling reality of his contemporary world.
Observe the faces in the crowd: do they show wonder at a miracle, or simply the expressions of travelers embarking on a journey? Jordaens’s ability to imbue his figures with such a range of human emotion allows for these dual interpretations.
This painting invites us to consider how much our own perspective shapes the stories we find within art.
Details
Transcript
This painting shows a biblical miracle unfolding. The apostle Peter reaches into a fish's mouth for a coin. But for 17th-century viewers, it was also 'The Ferry Boat to Antwerp.' The painter Jacob Jordaens lived his entire life in Antwerp. He was known for capturing everyday life, not just grand stories. So what do you see in their faces: awe, or just passengers on a journey?