The young Tobias with Angel

The apocryphal Book of Tobit (1–14) relates the story of the Israelite Tobit and his son Tobias. Tobit is taken captive in Nineveh, together with his wife, his son and his entire tribe. God-fearing, in defiance of massacres and legal restrictions, he disregards the ban on burying the dead according to Israelite custom. When he goes blind, his wife Hanna rages against the unjust reward for his compassion. Tobias is sent to the town of Rages to recover money borrowed by a relative. The Archangel Raphael, in human form, accompanies him. Returning from his long journey, Tobias is about to bathe in the River Tigris, when a huge fish leaps out of the water, attempting to swallow him. “Take the fish by the gills and pull it out!” cries Raphael. Tobias does so, and throws the fish ashore.
The Young Tobias with the Angel shows Raphael’s further instruction: “Cut the fish open and keep the heart, gall and liver; for they can be used as medicine.”

Translated catalogue text from:
Ducke Astrid: Katalog. In: Astrid Ducke: Der Kuss der Musen. Festspiele göttlicher Inspiration. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2020, S. 25–89, Italienisch, Römisch, Der junge Tobias mit dem Engel, S. 65, Abb. 5, S. 12

Translation: Gail Schamberger MA, Salzburg