Artwork

Landscape with Tobias and the Angel

Landscape with Tobias and the Angel, by Felix Meyer, watercolor, 1693
Landscape with Tobias and the Angel, by Felix Meyer, watercolor, 1693

Landscape with Tobias and the Angel is a watercolor painting by Felix Meyer. It dates from 1693 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1693, this watercolor by Felix Meyer depicts a tranquil natural setting. A lone figure stands near water, framed by trees, rocks, and a distant mountain range beneath a cloud‑filled sky. The composition balances foreground detail with a sweeping landscape, inviting the viewer into a quiet, contemplative scene.

Subject & Meaning

The title identifies the central figure as Tobias, accompanied by an angel, referencing the biblical story of Tobias and the Archangel Raphael. Their presence within the serene environment suggests themes of guidance and protection, integrating the narrative into a broader, peaceful natural world.

Technique & Style

Meyer employs watercolor washes that render atmospheric effects with subtle gradations of tone. The delicate layering of pigment captures the translucency of sky and water, while fine brushwork defines foliage and rock formations. The overall style reflects late‑17th‑century Northern European landscape conventions, emphasizing harmony between figure and environment.

History & Provenance

The work is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its attribution to Meyer and dating to the early 1690s are based on stylistic analysis and archival records, though the painting’s earlier ownership history remains undocumented.

Context

During the late 1600s, biblical subjects were often placed within idealized landscapes, merging devotional narrative with the era’s growing interest in natural observation. Meyer’s treatment aligns with this trend, using a modest scale and intimate medium to convey a personal, reflective interpretation of the Tobias legend.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Felix Meyer

Artist

Felix Meyer

Felix Meyer (1653–1713) was an artist, born in Wülflingen.