Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias

This painting by Rembrandt dramatic scene in 1637, depicting the moment when the archangel Raphael reveals his identity to Tobit's family and ascends to heaven. The story comes from the apocryphal Book of Tobit: after restoring blind Tobit's sight and guiding his son Tobias on a journey, the angel announces "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels."

The angel bursts upward through a break in dark clouds, bathed in heavenly light, while the family below reacts with awe and prostration. An open chest at the bottom right shows Tobit's offer of treasure to his benefactor, which the angel naturally refused. Rembrandt's mastery of light and dramatic composition makes this one of his finest religious works.

The oil on panel measures 52 by 66 centimeters and hangs at the Louvre in Paris. Rembrandt also created an etching of this subject. The Book of Tobit, though not part of the Protestant canon, attracted many Dutch Baroque artists with its dramatic potential.