Artwork

Scenes from Tobias (Tobias takes farewell from his father; Wanderings of Tobias and Archangel Raphael; Tobias taking the fish's heart, lever and gall)

Scenes from Tobias (Tobias takes farewell from his father; Wanderings of Tobias and Archangel Raphael; Tobias taking the fish's heart, lever and gall) is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Bicci di Lorenzo. It dates from 1422 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1422, this panel by Florentine artist Bicci di Lorenzo illustrates three consecutive episodes from the biblical Book of Tobit.

Created circa 1422, this panel by Florentine artist Bicci di Lorenzo illustrates three consecutive episodes from the biblical Book of Tobit. The work presents a narrative sequence across a single surface, each vignette framed by a simple architectural or landscape setting. Currently part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection, the painting exemplifies the early Renaissance’s interest in storytelling through modestly sized, multi‑scene compositions.

Subject & Meaning

The three scenes follow the journey of the young Tobias, guided by the archangel Raphael, as recounted in the apocryphal Tobit narrative. The left panel shows Tobias’s father, Tobit, bidding farewell to his son; the central image captures Raphael and Tobias with a woman—often identified as Sarah—while the rightmost vignette depicts Tobias extracting the fish’s heart, liver and gall, a ritual meant to cure his father’s blindness. Together they convey themes of divine assistance, filial duty and healing.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on wood, the composition relies on clear, linear contours and a restrained palette typical of early 15th‑century Florentine painting. Figures are outlined with fine brushwork, and the use of gold‑leaf halos and vivid red footwear draws attention to the angelic presence. The background features a stylised rocky hillside and sparse trees, providing a modest spatial context without detracting from the narrative focus.

History & Provenance

Bicci di Lorenzo, who trained in his father Lorenzo di Bicci’s workshop before establishing his own studio, produced the panel during the height of his independent career. The work later entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains on display. The painting reflects the family’s artistic lineage, which continued through Bicci’s son, Neri di Bicci, who inherited the workshop.

Context

The panel belongs to a period when Florentine artists began to explore sequential storytelling, moving beyond single‑figure devotional images. By integrating biblical narrative with modest landscape elements, Bicci aligns with contemporary trends toward naturalism and humanistic expression, while still employing conventional iconography such as halos and symbolic gestures to identify sacred characters.