Artwork
Tobias and the Angel
Tobias and the Angel is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Adam Elsheimer. It is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Tobias and the Angel is a small-scale copper painting depicting a serene biblical scene, characterized by meticulous atmospheric detail and innovative lighting effects, typical of its early Italian Baroque context.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a moment from the Book of Tobit, with the youthful Tobias kneeling in a forest, holding a fish and gazing up at the descending angel, clad in a white robe with a red sash, conveying a sense of tranquility and divine presence.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on copper, the work showcases Elsheimer's hallmark attention to light and shadow, utilizing chiaroscuro to create depth, drawing the viewer's focus to the central figures amidst a carefully rendered forest and distant water.
History & Provenance
Despite the listed creation date around 1650, the painting's attribution to Adam Elsheimer (died 1610) suggests a likely earlier creation date during his active period, reflecting his influence on early Baroque art despite predating the 1650 date.
Context
Part of the early Italian Baroque movement, the painting embodies the style's emphasis on refined, dramatic religious imagery, with Elsheimer's techniques in light and landscape influencing subsequent artistic developments.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adam Elsheimer (18 March 1578 – 11 December 1610) was a German Baroque painter who worked in Rome.
