Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, from The Story of Tobias

Art Historical Context

Georg Pencz's *Tobias and the Arch Raphael, from The Story Tobias* (1543) captures a pivotal moment from the apocryphal Book of Tob in the Bible. Here, the young Tobias journeys with the archangel Raphael—disguised as a companion—to retrieve his family's silver and gather a fish whose organs will cure his father's blindness Created during the Northern Renaissance, this engraving reflects Pencz's mastery as one of the Nuremberg "Little Masters," artists renowned for intricate small-scale prints that rivaled paintings in detail. Printed as the first state of three (per Landau cataloguing), this rare engraving measures just 2 11/16 × 4 3/16 inches, showcasing Pencz's virtuoso line work. Using a burin to incise fine lines into a copper plate, he achieved delicate shading, expressive faces, and dynamic poses that convey divine guidance amid earthly adventure. The medium's reproducibility spread biblical narratives to a wider audience during the Reformation era, blending spiritual devotion with artistic innovation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917), this piece highlights engraving's role in 16th-century print culture, where tags like angels, men, and women evoke timeless themes of faith, companionship, and healing. A gem for visitors, it invites close inspection of its exquisite precision.

About the Artist

Georg Pencz · 1490–1550

Comment on works: Religious; History; Portraits