A French Old Testament Biblical tapestry, Aubusson, from the Story of Tobit and Tobias mid 17th century

woven with the father figure Tobit awaiting his son Tobias's return, when he will be cured of his blindness, within a four-sided floral border on sable coloured ground; with later lower border

Tapestry is lined. This tapestry has a later lower border, as stated in the catalogue, which is well executed and matching, to the other three sides. The top right and left corners, have later reweaving, visible on close inspection as different colours and weave. There is later well executed reweaving to the lower section of Tobit's robe, in the lower right corner, and to the arch of the building and top left corner brick work, visible as the terracotta. Some scattered small repairs. Well balanced composition and colour. Versatile horizontal size. In good overall, restored and stable condition.
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The Adventures of Tobit are recorded in the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and take place in Nineveh in the 8th century B.C. during the Jewish exile in Assyria. Tobit, who has looked after his compatriots in need, prior to his sudden blindness, sends his son on a journey to Media with a companion that was thought to be a mortal, and the mission was to collect monies due to him. The archangel Raphael's presence results in Tobias being protected against evil spirits and a cure, in the form of the gall obtained from a large fish, being found for Tobit's blindness. The panel here shows Tobit waiting for his son's return.

For comparative tapestry styles of this period and types, see Nicole de Reyniès and Sylvain Laveissière, Isaac Moillon (1614-1673) Un Peintre du Roi à Aubusson, Musée départemental de la tapisserie, Aubusson, 2005. For a similar 17th century Aubusson tapestry panel from the Story of Jacob, with Jacob sleeping at the bottom of a staircase with angels, with a very similar border, see Sotheby's, London, 28th October 2004, lot 367. A  fragment of tapestry, Franco/Flemish, from the Story of Tobit, depicting Tobias, the archangel and his loyal hound, without a border, was offered at Sotheby's, London, 28th October 2004, lot 362.