Artwork
Landscape with Tobias and the Angel
Landscape with Tobias and the Angel is an ink print by the Baroque artist Gilles Neyts. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A domed structure emerges faintly among the foliage in the distance, adding a subtle architectural reference to the otherwise natural scene.
Gilles Neyts’ 1655 etching, Landscape with Tobias and the Angel, presents a tranquil woodland setting rendered on laid paper. The composition centers on two figures positioned beside a mature tree, one kneeling and the other gesturing upward, while a modest stream winds through the foreground. A domed structure emerges faintly among the foliage in the distance, adding a subtle architectural reference to the otherwise natural scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work draws on the biblical episode of Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, a narrative often associated with guidance and healing. By placing the pair in a serene forest, Neyts emphasizes the theme of divine assistance within the everyday world, suggesting a contemplative pause in nature where the angel’s counsel is offered.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the image relies on delicate, intersecting lines to model foliage, water, and architectural details. Neyts’ handling of the plate creates a fine texture in the leaves and rippling surface of the stream, while the contrast of deep shadows and light strokes gives the scene depth without resorting to heavy cross‑hatching.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑seventeenth century, the print reflects Neyts’ reputation as a skilled draughtsman of landscapes and his interest in biblical subjects. While specific ownership records for this particular impression are scarce, the work is documented among Neyts’ printed oeuvre and appears in several catalogues of Flemish etchings from the period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Landscape with a Stream
Six large upright landscapes with scenes from the Old Testament: Abraham Dismissing Hagar and Ishmael
Six views in the Wood of the Hague: Plate 5, A Man with a Staff in His Hand
Landscape with a Winding Road
Landscape with a Bending Tree
The Four Trees
Giant Oak with a Seated Fisherman
The Narrow Stream
Path between Trees
Landscape with Four Trees
Six views in the Wood of the Hague (series)
Landscape with a Waterfall and a Resting Family