Tobias En De Engel 

Adam Elsheimer made this ink drawing called “Tobias En De Engel” sometime before his death in 1610, it depicts a scene from the Book of Tobit. The image shows the young Tobias being guided by the angel Raphael, with broad brushstrokes depicting the landscape around them. Elsheimer, who lived in Rome during a period of intense religious and artistic change, brings a Northern European sensibility to the Italian Renaissance. The story of Tobias is one of healing and restoration. Here, the emotional weight of the piece resides in the intimate connection between the figures. Raphael’s protective gesture towards Tobias tells of divine guidance in the face of human vulnerability. The landscape isn’t just a backdrop, it’s an active participant in the narrative. The drawing subtly touches on the themes of faith and the journey toward understanding, highlighting the fragile yet resilient nature of the human spirit.