Le Peseur d'Or (The Money Exchanger) is a wonderful black and white etching on wire rod cream-colored paper, realized by Léopold Flameng, an after by the Flemish artist Gabriel Metsu (Leida, 1629 - Amsterdam, 1667).

This is a superb specimen, a print proof before letter, with the title and the inscriptions below the image "Gabriel Metsu pinx/ Léopold Flameng sc.". This original print would have been published later on the Gazette des Beaux-Arts.

This original etching represents a cynic money exchanger, whose only value in life is evil money and does not feel sympathy in front of a crying woman. The deep and vibrant blacks intensify the dramatic atmosphere, demonstrating the superb draftsmanship of the French artist.

In good conditions, except for a usual yellowing of paper and a diffused foxing above all on the lower margin. The area of the etching is also intact.

Leopold Flameng (Brussels, 1831 - Courgent, 1911) was a French artist, well-known for his etchings reproducing works by Jan van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Ingres and Delacroix, Boccaccio, Paul Scarron, Victor Hugo and François Coppée, producing one-hundred beautiful illustrations.

He at first studied with Luigi Calamatta and Jean Gigoux. His talent as engraver was noticed by Charles Blanc, and his collaboration on the Gazette des Beaux-Arts with his fellow engraver Léon Gaucherel helped to improve the reputation of the publication. He was a medallist at the Universal Exhibition (1878), and was elected member of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1898.
35.5 x 27.8 (foglio), 19 x 13.5 (image)