17th Century Oil-on-Canvas “The Archangel Raphael with Tobit”

The Archangel Raphael and Tobias, 17th-Century School
Oil on canvas

This 17th-century painting depicts one of the most renowned episodes from the Book of Tobit: the young Tobias, accompanied by the Archangel Raphael, holding the miraculous fish. During their journey, Raphael instructed Tobias to catch this fish, whose entrails would be used to heal his father’s blindness and to free his future wife from a demon.

The fish thus becomes a symbol of healing, salvation, and triumph over dark forces. In Christian symbolism, it also alludes to Christ, bearer of life and redemption. Here, the artist vividly conveys this spiritual dimension: Raphael, the celestial guide, accompanies the child on a mission where faith and hope are intertwined.

The canvas stands out for the delicacy of its features, the richness of the draperies, and the balance of the composition, reflecting the religious sensibility of the 17th century, nourished by both Italian and Flemish Baroque traditions.

The work is presented in an elegant custom-made wooden frame, gilded with patinated gold leaf, which enhances its nobility. It remains in a fine state of preservation for its age, retaining both its pictorial intensity and spiritual strength.