Pendant Design with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel

Art Historical Context

This enchanting engraving, titled *Pendant Design with a Fish Carrying Tobias and the Angel*, was created in 1582 by Flemish artists Jan Collaert I, Philips Galle, and Aden Collaert. as a second state of (per New Hollstein), it measures 7 1/16 5 1/4 inches and exemplifies the intricate ornamental prints popular in Antwerp's vibrant printmaking scene during the late Northern Renaissance. These collaborative works often served as models for goldsmiths and jewelers, transforming religious narratives into wearable art. The design draws from the biblical Book of Tobit, where a giant fish encounters the young Tobias and the angel Raphael on their journey. Here, the fish playfully bears both figures across the water, accompanied by bounding dogs—a nod to the story's themes of divine protection and loyalty. Such whimsical yet pious motifs blended spirituality with the era's fascination for fantastical creatures in decorative arts. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1942), this piece highlights engraving's precision, allowing fine details like scales and feathers to inspire luxurious pendants. It reflects 16th-century Europe's fusion of faith, nature, and craftsmanship, inviting viewers to imagine it as gleaming jewelry adorning a Renaissance noble's neck.