Artwork
Tobias and the Angel
Tobias and the Angel is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco Guardi. It dates from 1754 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Francesco Guardi's 1754 oil painting, *Tobias and the Angel*, exemplifies his early religious output. This work, possibly created in collaboration with his brother Gian Antonio, belongs to the Rococo movement. It depicts a scene from the Book of Tobit, where the Archangel Raphael guides the young Tobias on his journey. The painting is currently housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition, set against a distant landscape of water and mountains, conveys a sense of divine protection and guidance during the boy's significant journey.
The painting illustrates a moment from the Old Testament's Book of Tobit, showing the youthful Tobias seated on a rock. Beside him, the Archangel Raphael gestures toward the horizon, while a dog accompanies the pair. Tobias appears contemplative, looking downward. The composition, set against a distant landscape of water and mountains, conveys a sense of divine protection and guidance during the boy's significant journey.
Technique & Style
Created in 1754, this oil painting reflects the Rococo aesthetic prevalent in 18th-century Venice. The style often incorporated decorative elements and a lighter sensibility, even within religious subjects. Guardi's rendering of the biblical narrative aligns with these characteristics, presenting the sacred story with a certain grace and delicate touch. This approach distinguishes it from more somber religious depictions of earlier periods.
History & Provenance
*Tobias and the Angel* represents an early phase in Francesco Guardi's career, a period during which he frequently collaborated on religious commissions with his brother, Gian Antonio. This specific work, dated 1754, contributes to understanding the Guardi workshop's output of devotional art. Today, the painting is part of the permanent collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is accessible to the public.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Lazzaro Guardi (Italian pronunciation: ; 5 October 1712 – 1 January 1793) was an Italian painter, nobleman, and a member of the Venetian School.
