Artwork

Tobit Burying the Dead

Tobit Burying the Dead, by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, ink, 1646
Tobit Burying the Dead, by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, ink, 1646

Tobit Burying the Dead is an ink print by the Baroque artist Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. It dates from 1646 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Tobit Burying the Dead is an etching on laid paper created by Italian artist Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione around 1646. The work is representative of Castiglione's skill as a printmaker and his exploration of biblical and rural themes.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a scene from the Book of Tobit, showing the title character and others burying a body in a rocky, shadowy landscape. The somber atmosphere and focus on a narrative moment reflect Castiglione's interest in storytelling through his art.

Technique & Style

Castiglione employed etching and drypoint techniques to achieve a gritty, textured effect. Drypoint scratching created fuzzy, web-like lines that add to the scene's chaotic, shadowy quality, evident in the rendering of rocks, clothing, and the background.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione

Artist

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (baptized 23 March 1609 – 5 May 1664) was an Italian Baroque painter, printmaker and draftsman, of the Genoese school.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.