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Wierix, Hieronymus (attributed to)
Tobias and the Angel Arriving at Raguel’s House No. 4 in a series of 6: The Story of Tobit Tobie et l'ange arrivant chez Raguel; no 4 d'une série de 6 : Le livre de Tobie
around v. 1582-1585

Tobias and the Angel Arriving at Raguel’s House serves as the fourth plate in a series of prints attributed to Hieronymus Wierix after designs by Marten de Vos illustrating the apocryphal Book of Tobit. The inscription beneath the image indicates to the viewer that this composition is inspired from chapter seven of the Book of Tobit; however, a few of the subsidiary scenes at the back of the print are drawn from chapter eight of the biblical narrative. The action of the figures in the foreground of this engraving is similar to the previous print in the series. At centre, Tobias and Raguel share a warm embrace, while Edna holds the angel around his waist to the right. At left, Tobias’s dog greets Sarah, and two domestics partake in the moment. To the back, Raguel and his family entertain their guests around the dinner table, which leads to a marriage agreement between Tobias and Sarah. Leaping ahead to the following chapter in the story, the newlyweds can be seen through an arched opening kneeling in prayer in one of the chambers. Rounding out the composition, Raguel and one of his assistants dig a grave for Tobias, fearing the latter will suffer the same fate as Sarah’s previous bridegrooms and die.

Wierix, Hieronymus (attributed to)
Antwerp, Belgium 1553-Antwerp, Belgium 1619 Antwerp, Belgium 1553-Antwerp, Belgium 1619
Tobias and the Angel Arriving at Raguel’s House No. 4 in a series of 6: The Story of Tobit Tobie et l'ange arrivant chez Raguel; no 4 d'une série de 6 : Le livre de Tobie
around v. 1582-1585
Engraving, state 2 of 2 Gravure, 2e état sur 2
overall: 19.5 cm x 27.5 cm
Purchase, Bader Acquisition Fund, 2010 Achat, Fonds d’acquisition Bader, 2010
53-046.101

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