Manuscript Illumination with Tobit, Tobias, and the Archangel Raphael in an Initial O, from an Antiphonary
Unknown Artist
mid-14th century
Medium
Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment
Dimensions
Overall: 7 1/16 x 6 5/16 in. (18 x 16 cm) Study mat: 11 15/16 x 9 15/16 in. (30.4 x 25.3 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
Italian
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Gwynne M. Andrews, 1930
Accession Number
31.134.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled within a grand initial "O" from a mid-14th-century Italianiphonary, this exquisite manuscript illumination captures a pivotal moment from the Book of Tob in the Bible. Tobit, a pious Israelite struck blind, is joined by his son Tobias and Archangel Raphael—disguised as a guide—who leads the young man on a divine journey involving a fish's gall that miraculously restores sight. Created for liturgical use in Catholic services, antiphonaries like this guided Gregorian chants, blending sacred text with vivid storytelling to inspire devotion. Crafted with tempera, ink, and shimmering gold ...