REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN (1606-1669)

This particular moment in the story of Tobit presents a challenge for the artist choosing to depict it: as the angel Raphael reveals himself to the father and his son Tobias, they both bow their heads to the ground in fear. When they look up again, the Angel has disappeared. He is there one moment and gone the next. Inventively, Rembrandt only shows the soles of the feet of the Angel as he disappears out of the picture plane in a blaze of light. This fine impression of the second state perfectly captures this light effect, which is lost in later impressions, as well as the variety of sentiments of those present at this scene: humility in the figure of Tobias, gratitude in the figure of Tobit, and curiosity and startled amazement in the onlookers.