The scene of Tobit according a proper burial to slain Hebrew exiles was one of the few Biblical examples recording this moral duty to the deceased, and so was regularly included among illustrations of the Acts of Mercy cited in the blessings pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:7). Van Heemskerck’s design typically emphasizes the elegant, idealized figure and classical architectural setting, and was realized here by the little-known printmaker Harmen Muller, who was active in Amsterdam after having worked many years for major Antwerp publishers.