The return of Tobias 1825

Konrad Eberhard made this pencil drawing, The Return of Tobias, sometime in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century in Germany. The drawing illustrates a scene from the Book of Tobit, part of the biblical apocrypha, a popular source of imagery during this period. This is a classically inspired composition, and it reminds us of the period's engagement with religious subjects. The drawing is spare, austere even, but full of narrative potential, it leaves much to the imagination of the viewer. We see Tobias returning home, guided by the angel Raphael, to cure his father's blindness. The scene emphasizes familial love, faith, and divine intervention, values that resonated deeply in the social and cultural context of the time. By studying the religious and artistic conventions of the era, and the rise of devotional art, we can better understand the significance of Eberhard's work within its historical context. This drawing invites us to explore the social and institutional roles of religious art in shaping cultural values.