The Marriage of Tobias and Sara
Pieter Coecke van Aelst (I)
1540 - 1545
Medium
pen
Dimensions
110; 73
About this artwork
Ontwerp voor een wandtapijt.
Art Historical Context
Created around 1540–1545, this delicate pen drawing by Flemish artist Pieter Coecke van Aelst serves as a preparatory design for a woven wall tapestry. Measuring just 73 by 110 millimeters, the compact sketch captures the biblical marriage of Tobias and Sara from the Book of Tobit, a story rich with themes of faith, protection, and divine blessing that resonated deeply in Renaissance Europe. Coecke van Aelst was renowned for his tapestry cartoons, which translated narrative scenes into large-scale textiles for noble and ecclesiastical patrons. Working in the Northern Renaissance tradition, he...