Who painted Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness?

Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642.

Where can I see Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness?

Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness?

Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1642

Tobias Healing His Father's Blindness is a drawing by the Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1969.69
Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

About this work

Overview

Rembrandt’s drawing portrays the pivotal episode from the apocryphal Book of Tobit where the son, Tobias, attempts to restore his father Tobit’s sight. The composition gathers the central figures, Tobias, his father, the archangel Raphael, and two women, around a seated Tobit, capturing a quiet, domestic moment of care.

Subject & Meaning

The work translates a biblical miracle into an intimate family scene, emphasizing human concern over divine spectacle. Tobias is shown concentrating on the delicate task, while the presence of spectacles on one woman underscores the theme of vision and healing.

Technique & Style

Executed with swift, confident lines, the drawing demonstrates Rembrandt’s skillful use of chiaroscuro, employing contrasts of light and shadow to model forms and suggest depth. The marks appear simple yet convey texture and movement, highlighting the tactile interaction between the figures.

Context

Created after the introduction of cataract surgery in Amsterdam (1635) by Dr. Job Janszoon van Meekren, the drawing reflects contemporary medical knowledge. Rembrandt may have observed such procedures, informing his depiction of Tobias using a scalpel rather than the traditional fish‑gall remedy.

Legacy

The inclusion of everyday details, such as the spectacles and the realistic handling of the medical act, illustrates Rembrandt’s broader effort to humanize biblical narratives. This approach influenced subsequent artists who sought to ground sacred stories in observable reality.