Even
though this painting has a mythological flavour and it
is very similar to the Dioscuri already seen in the
Thirties, its title and the fishing net in the hands of
the two men suggest the biblical inspiration, from the
Book of Tobias.
"This biblical story, one of the most ancient,
tells as it is known, the events of the young son of
Tobias and his Guardian Angel, Raphael himself. We are
in the Ninives of the time of Salmanassar (726-722) and
of Sorgaan II (721-705) and Tobias is a very devout
deported Jew who lives in this city with his wife Anna
and the son Tobiolo. Got to an old age, Tobias is victim
of a peculiar accident: while he is resting outdoors,
the excrements of a sparrow fall on his eyes causing him
an infection that makes him blind. Feeling he is
approaching his death, he asks the son to go to the
region of Media to take the money that was owed to him.
The story tells that, at this point, without revealing
his identity, the Archangel Raphael comes to the door of
Tobias volunteering to accompany Tobiolo on his trip. (...)
During
a stop on the shores of Tigris, Tobiolo decides to take
a bath, but suddenly an enormous fish gets out of the
water and threatens to devour him. Raphael encourages
Tobiolo not to be scared, but on the contrary he helps
him, with his advice, to catch it and he recommends him
to keep its heart, venom and liver. Arrived to their
destination, Tobiolo withdraws the money and Raphael
suggests to make a stop at the house of a relative of
the boy, whose daughter, Sara, could have been a perfect
bride for him. Got to Sara's house, who was also a Jew
and daughter of exiles, Tobiolo finds out that she is
possessed by the demon Asmodeus, that has already
devoured the previous seven husbands she had had during
the first night as married. Adviced by his companion,
Tobiolo, despite the great fear, still marries Sara and,
following Raphael's suggestions, once alone with the
bride in the nuptial room, he burns in an incense burner
the heart and the liver of the fish caught during the
trip, creating such a terrible smell that Asmodeus is
forced to escape to the regions of High Egypt where his
hands and feet are put in chains by Angel Raphael
himself.
On their way back with Sara, the travellers reach
Tobias' house where Raphael orders Tobiolo to spread the
venom of the fish on his father's eyes and this way he
reacquires his sight. In front of so many strange facts
Tobias asks Raphael to reveal himself and asks him how
could he repay him for everything. To this he replies:
" I am Raphael, one of the seven Angels who are
always ready to enter the presence of the majesty of the
Lord. Now bless the Lord on earth and be thankful to
God. I will go back to Him who has sent me." (Tobias
12, 15)"
Mariagraziella
Belloli, Raffaele, l'angelo custode,
Silvana, 2000
Aligi Sassuassu
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