Tobias and the angel

Elsheimer, Adam, after

Mezzotint on paper of Tobias and the angel crossing a river, engraved by John Smith (1652-1743) and published by Alexander Browne (fl.1659-1706) in London c. 1684. It is a close copy in reverse of a painting on copper by Adam Elsheimer (1578-1610) now in the Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main (B0789). Small changes are noticeable between the print and painting, including the placement of the fish. The composition is based on a story from the Book of Tobit. Tobias, who lived with his parents in exile, was sent on a journey by his father Tobit. The Archangel Raphael in disguise acted as his protector and guide. When a fish attempted to swallow his foot, the archangel instructed Tobias to remove its innards. These he later uses to save his own life as well as to cure his father’s blindness.