A Landscape with Tobias and the Angel
- Artist: Jan Lievens
- Date: 1640-4
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Landscape with Tobias and the Angel" painted by Jan Lievens. Against a background of rolling countryside, dark forest, and dappled river reflections, a peasant sits by a rickety fence playing a pipe in the foreground. In the distance, two tiny figures are walking down the path towards a cottage.
But what's happening right in front of us is a pivotal moment from the story of Tobias. An angel, dressed in white, is guiding a youth across the river. They're moving into the scene, but to the peasant and the youth themselves, the angel probably just looks like an ordinary mortal. We can tell this because of the story itself - it's a classic tale about faith and divine intervention.
The artist has likely chosen to depict a moment from the journey of Tobias, who was blind and needed his son's help. As they traveled, they encountered various challenges, including a treacherous river crossing where Tobias was attacked by a fish. But in this painting, it's unclear whether the figure carrying something under his arm is holding a fish or his dog.
Lievens' style here is characterized by bold brushstrokes and subtle suggestion rather than fine detail. The painting's exact date is unknown, but it likely falls within the period of 1640-4 when Lievens was active in Antwerp.
See it in person
A Landscape with Tobias and the Angel hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
