Where can I see Design for a Pendant with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel?

Design for a Pendant with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Design for a Pendant with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel?

Design for a Pendant with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Design for a Pendant with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel

Design for a Pendant with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Adriaen Collaert. It dates from 1582 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Adriaen Collaert’s 1582 engraving presents a design intended for a pendant. Executed as a print, the composition is framed by an ornamental swirled border topped with two looping terminals, beneath which a chandelier‑like motif with suspended spheres unfolds. The central tableau features a fish bearing two figures, evoking a narrative scene.

Subject & Meaning

The central fish carries a standing figure holding a staff and a seated companion who gazes downward, a visual reference to the biblical story of Tobias and the angel, in which a fish plays a pivotal role. The open mouth of the creature and the attentive posture of the riders suggest a moment of guidance or revelation.

Technique & Style

Collaert’s engraving employs fine, sharply cut lines that render intricate details of metalwork, from the decorative frame to the textured scales of the fish. The precision of the incised lines creates a sense of depth and texture, characteristic of late‑Renaissance Northern European printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in 1582, the print served as a preparatory model for a jewelry pendant, illustrating the collaborative relationship between engravers and goldsmiths in the Flemish workshop system. While the original metal pendant is unrecorded, the engraving survives in several print collections, documenting Collaert’s role in disseminating ornamental designs.