Tobias and the Archangel Raphael
Author: Unknown
Origin: Unknown
Dating: 18th century
Material: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions (cm): 165 x 125,5
Inv. no.: PDdep0012
This painting depicts a scene from the Old Testament, from the Book of Tobit, which is part of the Deuterocanon. It displays the beginning of Tobias’ journey, as he prepares to embark on a long and perilous trip to Rhages, in Media. He is bidding farewell to his parents and, in the foreground, one may see his aged and blind father – Tobit – embracing Tobias. The young man is receiving his father’s final advice.
On the left side, one may see the Archangel Raphael, casting a brief glance at Anna, Tobias’ mother. She is desolate, with her hands crossed over her chest, as a sign of pain and sorrow.
One may notice that, far off, there are two small figures near water. These represent Tobias and the accompanying angel. The scene foreshadows what will happen on the journey: the young man, on the angel’s advice, caught a huge fish that attacked him. According to the Sacred Text, he came to open it to remove the gall, with which he intended to cure his father’s blindness. He would also take advantage of the animal’s heart and liver, which, when burned over fire, would drive away the demon that possessed Sarah – the cousin he came to meet and marry during the journey.
