Christ driving the Money Changers from the Temple, Theodoor Rombouts

Christ driving the Money Changers from the Temple, Theodoor Rombouts (1637)

A remarkable episode in Christ's life: the day he expelled the money changers from the temple. We see a furious Chris. His anger erupted when he discovered that the holy site of the temple was being used as a market hall and money changer's office. For Caravaggio's followers, this story offered an opportunity to portray a wide range of emotions. Whit a self-made whip, Christ furiously attacks the merchants. "Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Fathers house into a marke place!" That's what Christ souted, according to one of his followers.

Theodoor Rombouts was a Flemish painter who is mainly known for his Caravaggesque genre scenes depicting lively dramatic gatherings as well as religiously-themed works. He is considered to be the primary and most original representative of Flemish Caravaggism. These Caravaggisti were part of an international movement of European artists who interpreted the work of Caravaggio and the followers of Caravaggio in a personal manner.