Tobias and the Angel

This dynamic drawing by Alessandro Magnasco depicts the biblical narrative of Tobias and the Angel through loose, expressive brushwork in reddish-brown wash heightened with white, characteristic of the Genoese artist's dramatic Baroque style. The small-scale composition on laid paper captures the spiritual and physical movement of the two figures, demonstrating Magnasco's skill in creating luminous effects and narrative tension through rapid, gestural marks. The work belongs to a series of variant studies the artist produced of this popular religious subject, reflecting his interest in exploring different compositional approaches to the theme.