Who painted Tobias und der Engel?

Tobias und der Engel was painted by Mattia Preti in 1656.

Where can I see Tobias und der Engel?

Tobias und der Engel is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Tobias und der Engel?

Tobias und der Engel is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Tobias und der Engel

Mattia Preti , 1656

Tobias und der Engel is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Mattia Preti. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Mattia Preti’s 1656 oil on canvas, titled “Tobias und der Engel,” is a religious work now displayed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. The composition presents two figures within a shadowy interior, illuminated by a stark contrast of light and darkness that draws attention to their gestures and the symbolic objects they hold.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts the biblical episode of Tobias and the Archangel Raphael. Tobias, seated in modest attire, gazes at a small, lifeless form on the floor, while the angel, cloaked in a flowing robe, shields his face with a cloth, suggesting a moment of divine intervention or protection.

Technique & Style

Preti employs dramatic chiaroscuro, allowing the light to caress the faces and drapery while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. Thick impasto characterizes the wings and fabric, creating a tactile surface that enhances the sense of volume and movement within the confined setting.

History & Provenance

Executed in the mid‑seventeenth century, the painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains a representative example of Preti’s Baroque religious output. Its provenance reflects the museum’s acquisition of works that illustrate the period’s intense spiritual narratives.