Tobias en de engel aan de rivieroever c. 1745 - 1765

This mezzotint by James McArdell, titled "Tobias en de engel aan de rivieroever," depicts a scene from the Book of Tobit, in which the angel Raphael guides the young Tobias on his journey. The artwork is created using the mezzotint technique, a printmaking process that allows for a rich tonal range, which is evident in the soft, atmospheric rendering of the landscape. The scene is set against a dramatic backdrop of a rocky cliff and a distant village, adding a sense of scale and depth to the composition. The angel's wings and the flowing drapery of Tobias' clothing are rendered with great detail, emphasizing the spiritual nature of the encounter. This work, part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, showcases McArdell's mastery of this technique, which was particularly popular in the 18th century.