Jakob Meyer zum Hasen

A money changer by profession, he was the first bürgermeister of Basel to be a tradesman, belonging to a guild[1] rather than a member of the aristocracy or a wealthy family.

He is known as a patron of the painter Hans Holbein the Younger, having commissioned the Darmstadt Madonna and a double portrait from him.

In the same year, he commissioned a double portrait with his second wife Dorothea Kannengießer from Hans Holbein the Younger.

[1] He remained the mayor of Basel until 1521, the year he was accused of receiving secret pensions from France.

[1] In his twenties he was a member of the Swiss soldiers in service of the French, Italian or Papal nobility which was a lucrative business at the time.