Tobias and the Angel (large plate)

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures a tender moment from the biblical Book of Tobit, in which the young Tobias travels with the Arch Raphael, who guides and protects him. Created in 1613 by Dutch printmaker Hendrick Goudt after a composition by German artist Adam Elsheimer, the large plate beautifully translates Elsheimer’s luminous, small-scale painting into a reproducible medium. The scene unfolds amid a wooded landscape, with the angel’s wings and staff subtly framing the pair as they move through dappled light and shadow. Elsheimer, active in Rome during the early seventeenth century, was celebrated for his innovative use of light and intimate storytelling. Goudt’s engraving helped spread these ideas across Europe at a time when prints served as vital vehicles for artistic exchange. The detailed rendering of trees and foliage showcases the medium’s capacity for fine line work, inviting viewers to linger on the natural setting that heightens the narrative’s sense of journey and divine companionship. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this work exemplifies how engravings preserved and popularized influential compositions for generations of artists and collectors.