The Archangel Raphael with Tobias

The Archangel Raphael with Tobias, painted around 1496, depicts the story from the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit in which the archangel guides young Tobias on a journey to recover his father's money and find a cure for his blindness. The archangel Raphael, whose name means 'God heals,' was among the most popular angel subjects of the Renaissance, representing divine protection and guidance through life's uncertainties. Perugino's treatment gives Raphael the same luminous grace he brings to Michael and Gabriel, creating a reassuring divine companion rather than an overwhelming celestial being. The subject's combination of narrative journey with angelic protection made it a favorite for private devotional paintings in wealthy households.

The two figures are rendered with Perugino's characteristic grace, the archangel's ethereal beauty contrasting with the youth's more earthly presence. The luminous landscape background creates the serene setting typical of his compositions.