Venetian School, second half of the 16th century, Tobias and Sarah led to Nineveh by the Archangel Azaria

Venetian School, second half of the 16th century Tobias and Sarah led to Nineveh by the Archangel Azaria Oil on canvas, 48 x 56 cm – With frame, 58 x 72 cm The present canvas, executed with precious colors and a skillful touch, can be linked to Venetian production of the second half of the 16th century. The subject of the painting is probably taken from the Bible. The episode in question refers to the story of Sarah, daughter of Raguel, who was a victim of a demon in love, Asmodeus, who killed her husband on their wedding night every time she got married. She prays to God to save her from people's slander. Her prayers cause God to send Tobias from Nineveh to Ecbatana, where Sarah resides, to marry her. Tobias undertakes his journey together with Azaria, an archangel, who, however, presents himself in the guise of an experienced traveler. He is the one who advises Tobias to extract the gall, liver, and heart from a fish, caught along a river where the two had found rest from their long journey, and to keep it in a bag. When Sarah and Tobias meet, they understand that their encounter is the fruit of God's will. The father Raguel blesses the couple and invites the servants to prepare the bridal chamber but also to dig a trench as a safeguard. However, Tobias, on the Angel's advice, before joining his bride, burns the fish's gall, liver, and heart in a brazier. The bad smell emanating from the brazier drives away the demon Asmodeus, who will never return. The young couple, the next day, leave for Nineveh laden with animals, servants, and other riches gifted by Raguel, still accompanied by Azaria, who reveals himself to be the Archangel Raphael once they arrive in Nineveh and after advising Tobias to sprinkle the gall on the eyes of Tobias's father, who regains his sight. The scene painted shows Tobias and Sarah, the newlyweds, accompanied to Nineveh by the Angel who is depicted originally from behind, turning back, with the index fingers of both hands pointed to show the way to the couple, who look at each other in love. The main group is accompanied by animals, a servant, and crockery (reminiscent of Venetian and particularly Bassano style), which are the gifts given to the couple by Raguel. The human figures are depicted in bust and the painter sacrifices a sense of perspective depth, placing the group of the couple and the angel on an upper level and the shepherd/servant with the animals on the lower level. In the background, a river is visible, recalling the place where Tobias fishes the fish from which he extracts the elements that will save him from the demon. The story represented here is rather rare in the history of art, which mostly depicts other episodes of Tobias, such as Tobias and the Angel, Tobias Fishing the Fish, or the Marriage of Tobias and Sarah. The object is in a good state of preservation