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Man Weighing Gold

Adriaen Isenbrant Netherlandish
ca. 1515–20
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 612

Dressed in fashionable black and expensive fur, this pensive sitter holds up a scale. Gold coins glint on the table in front of him. Occupational portraits were growing in popularity in the early sixteenth century, when Isenbrant completed this work. The wealthy sitter appears defined by his profession, not his piety. He may have been a merchant who dealt in commodities, based in Bruges or Antwerp. In international port cities such as these, where currencies from across Europe were in circulation, weighing coins guaranteed their value. Larger moral themes of balance and authenticity may also have been intended here.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Man Weighing Gold
  • Artist: Adriaen Isenbrant (Netherlandish, active by 1510–died 1551 Bruges)
  • Date: ca. 1515–20
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 20 x 12 in. (50.8 x 30.5 cm), with added strips of 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm) at left and right
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.36
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

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Christ Crowned with Thorns (Ecce Homo), and the Mourning Virgin (Mater Dolorosa), Adriaen Isenbrant Netherlandish, Oil on canvas, transferred from wood
Christ Crowned with Thorns (Ecce Homo), and the Mourning Virgin (Mater Dolorosa)
Adriaen Isenbrant
ca. 1530–40
The Life of the Virgin, Adriaen Isenbrant Netherlandish, Oil on wood
The Life of the Virgin
Adriaen Isenbrant
after 1521
The Adoration of the Magi, Quinten Massys Netherlandish, Oil on wood
The Adoration of the Magi
Quinten Massys
1526
The Annunciation, Hans Memling Netherlandish, Oil on wood
The Annunciation
Hans Memling
ca. 1465–70
Portrait of a Woman, Quinten Massys Netherlandish, Oil on wood
Portrait of a Woman
Quinten Massys
ca. 1520

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