Artwork
Tobias and the Angel

Tobias and the Angel is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Pieter Mulier. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Tobias and the Angel is a 1697 oil painting by Pieter Mulier II, a Dutch Golden Age painter based in the Papal States. The work is characterized by its Flemish Baroque style and is part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical scene of Tobias accompanied by an angel, set against a dramatic, stormy landscape. Figures in the foreground—a staff-bearing man and another bending down near the water's edge—anchor the narrative amidst the natural surroundings.
Technique & Style
Mulier II employed deep light and shadow contrasts, hallmark of the Flemish Baroque, to create a sense of drama. The focus on mood over sharp details underscores the artist's emphasis on atmospheric tension.
History & Provenance
Created in 1697, the painting is now held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, though its history between creation and acquisition is not detailed here.
Context
The use of chiaroscuro, evident in the painting's dramatic lighting, reflects artistic influences of the time, drawing parallels with broader Baroque practices that leveraged contrast for emotional depth.
Legacy
While specific influences or subsequent artistic impacts of *Tobias and the Angel* are not outlined, its preservation in a major museum collection suggests recognition of its representative value for 17th-century Flemish Baroque painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cavalier Pietro Tempesta, or Pieter Mulier II (1637 – 29 June 1701) was a Dutch Golden Age painter active in the Papal States.


















