The Archangel Raphael and Tobias 1439 - 1491

Neri di Bicci created this small panel painting of "The Archangel Raphael and Tobias" in the 15th century, and it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's remarkable how the artist balances the ethereal with the earthly within such a compact space. The composition strikes a delicate balance between symmetry and asymmetry. Raphael and Tobias, rendered in soft, muted colors, walk towards the left, yet their figures are carefully placed to engage both halves of the panel. Note the contrast between the solid, grounded figures and the flat, patterned background, filled with stylized stars. The archangel's wings, though meant to suggest flight, are heavy with detail, anchoring him to the ground. This juxtaposition of the divine and the mundane is further explored in the subdued palette, which softens the symbolic weight of the scene. Di Bicci uses line and form to create a space that is both reverent and intimately human, inviting us to contemplate the intersection of faith and everyday life.