Tobias and the Angel (small plate) 1608

Hendrick Goudt made this small plate etching, titled "Tobias and the Angel," around 1608 in Rome. It depicts a scene from the Book of Tobit, where the angel Raphael guides the young Tobias on a journey. The image is rich in visual codes rooted in the religious beliefs of its time. During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Catholic Church was still reeling from the Protestant Reformation. Artists like Goudt played a crucial role in visually reinforcing Catholic doctrine. The inclusion of angels, for instance, emphasized the divine presence in everyday life, a concept sometimes downplayed in Protestant theology. The landscape itself reflects the Northern European tradition, blending naturalism with idealized forms to evoke a sense of divine order. To fully appreciate this work, we delve into the religious and artistic institutions that shaped its creation and reception. Art historical resources, theological texts, and social histories of the period can help us understand the complex interplay between faith, art, and society in Goudt's Rome.