Tobias and the Angel
Piero del Pollaiuolo·1500
Historical Context
This Tobias and the Angel, attributed to Piero del Pollaiuolo from around 1500, depicts the Old Testament narrative of the young Tobias guided by the Archangel Raphael on his journey — a subject popular in Florence partly because Raphael was patron of travelers and the young men setting out on commercial journeys that were central to Florentine prosperity. The Tobias subject was particularly associated with Florentine confraternities, guilds, and families who invoked Raphael's protection for young merchants traveling to distant markets. Whether by Piero or attributed to him, the work reflects the Pollaiuolo workshop's characteristic approach to the subject.
Technical Analysis
The elegant figures move through a naturalistic landscape with the precise drawing and crisp contours characteristic of the Pollaiuolo workshop, the angel's wings and costume rendered with decorative precision.
