Bryant Peter - Delphi Complete Works of Leonardo da Vinci

Completed by 1480, this altar painting is attributed to the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio and is now housed in the London National Gallery. Some art historians believe that Leonardo, who was a member of Verrocchios studio at the time, had painted some of the work, most likely the fish. David Alan Brown, of the National Gallery in Washington , attributes the painting of the little dog to Leonardo as well. If these scholars are correct, then this would be the first extant painting of the renowned artist.

Theimage depicts a scene from the Book of Tobit, in which Tobias, son of Tobit, meets the angel Raphael, without realising his true identity. Tobias had been sent by his father to collect a sum of money that the latter had deposited some time previously in the distant land of Media . According to the story, Raphael represented himself as Tobits kinsman Azariah, and offered to aid and protect Tobias on his journey. Under the guidance of Raphael, Tobias made the journey to Media, accompanied by his faithful dog. Along the way, when washing his feet in the river Tigris , Tobias was attacked by a fish that tried to swallow his foot. Under the instructions of the angel he seized it and removed the heart, liver and gall bladder to make a special medicine. Raphael then told the young man how the fish could be used to cure Tobias cousin, a young woman named Sarah, who was plagued by the demon of lust. Asmodeus, the worst of demons had previously abducted and killed every man she married. Through the angels aid, Tobias was successful in driving the demon away from his cousin and the two were speedily married.