Who painted Tobias and the Fish?

Tobias and the Fish was painted by Andrea Vaccaro in 1640.

Where can I see Tobias and the Fish?

Tobias and the Fish is held by Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

What movement is Tobias and the Fish?

Tobias and the Fish is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Tobias and the Fish?

Museum-quality prints of Tobias and the Fish are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Tobias and the Fish

Andrea Vaccaro , 1640

Tobias and the Fish is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Andrea Vaccaro. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

About this work

Overview

Andrea Vaccaro’s 1640 oil on canvas, *Tobias and the Fish*, presents a compact biblical tableau rendered in the early Baroque idiom of southern Italy.

Andrea Vaccaro’s 1640 oil on canvas, *Tobias and the Fish*, presents a compact biblical tableau rendered in the early Baroque idiom of southern Italy. The composition centers on a kneeling figure clutching a sizable fish, while an attendant angel, winged and robed in blue, gestures toward him. A modest landscape of trees, rolling hills and a cloud‑filled sky frames the scene, lending a sense of depth to the narrative moment.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualizes the episode from the Book of Tobit in which the young Tobias, guided by the archangel Raphael, catches a fish whose organs later serve as medicinal cures. Here the angel’s outstretched hand directs the viewer’s attention to the fish, underscoring its symbolic role as a divine instrument of healing and protection within the biblical story.

Technique & Style

Vaccaro adopts a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated figures against a shadowed backdrop to heighten three‑dimensionality and emotional intensity. The figures are rendered with naturalistic anatomy and textured drapery, reflecting the influence of Caravaggio’s dramatic lighting while retaining a softer, more lyrical palette typical of Neapolitan Baroque painting.

History & Provenance

Created during Vaccaro’s mature period while Naples was under Spanish dominion, the painting was likely commissioned for a private devotional setting, as were many of his religious pieces. It entered the collection of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in the 20th century, where it remains part of the museum’s Baroque holdings.