The Tribute Money

Lucas van Leyden · c. 1523
National Gallery of Art, Washington

This small woodcut was made by Lucas van Leyden around 1523. The figures are packed tightly into a narrow street, their faces cut in a few strong lines.

Jesus stands at the right with a halo, his disciples behind him. At the left, men in tall hats and hoods have come to question him. In the middle a man takes a coin from his purse and hands it over.

From the text

“Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius (Matthew 22:19)

“Whose image is this” — and whose inscription? (Matthew 22:20)

“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21)

The artist’s own

A purse hanging at a belt

Tall hats and hoods of Lucas’s day for the questioners

Details

Jesus

He stands with a halo, looking down.

The coin

A coin passes from hand to hand.

The purse

A purse at a man’s belt.

The questioners

Men in tall hats and hoods.

Lucas van Leyden, Netherlandish, c. 1489/94–1533. National Gallery of Art, Washington (Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.1610) · Woodcut · NGA Open Access: "Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial, under Creative Commons Zero (CC0)." (NGA open data: published_images.csv openaccess = 1)

The verses

Matt 22:15–22Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.