Tobias and the Angel by the River - James McArdell

A fine mezzotint by James McArdell, reproducing a biblical scene of Tobias and the Angel in the style of Rembrandt.

This mezzotint by James McArdell reproduces a composition attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn. The scene depicts a moment from the Book of Tobit, where the young Tobias is guided by the Archangel Raphael. The figures are positioned on a riverbank, with the angel leaning over the seated youth. A small dog, a traditional companion in this biblical narrative, sits beside them. The background features a hilly terrain with a distant structure, rendered in the dark, atmospheric tones characteristic of the mezzotint process.

James McArdell was a highly skilled engraver who worked primarily in London. He became known for his ability to translate the tonal qualities of oil paintings into the medium of print. Mezzotint, a technique involving the roughening of a copper plate to create soft gradations of light and shadow, was particularly suited to the dramatic chiaroscuro favoured by Rembrandt. By using a rocker to create a burr on the plate, McArdell achieved the deep, velvety blacks and subtle grey transitions visible in this print.

This work demonstrates the eighteenth-century interest in reproducing Dutch Golden Age paintings for a wider audience. The print captures the quiet, contemplative mood of the original scene, focusing on the interaction between the divine messenger and the mortal traveller. The composition relies on the contrast between the illuminated figures and the surrounding gloom, a hallmark of the Rembrandt school. As a reproduction, it offers insight into how historical printmakers interpreted the brushwork and lighting effects of earlier masters. The print remains a fine example of the technical precision required in the mezzotint craft, showing how light is coaxed from the darkness through careful scraping and burnishing of the metal plate.