This Old Testament story (Tobias 6, 1-8) takes place in a grove of trees on the banks of the Tigris River. The story of Tobias, the father, and his son of the same name, is a model of Jewish piety. Christ's Passion is foreshadowed by Tobias, the father, who remained faithful to God's Law in the midst of generalized abuse. He was put to the test on several occasions and always proved faithful. The scene depicts one of those tests, when he went blind and God sent the Archangel Raphael to tell Tobias' son that he could cure his father by applying fish guts to his eyes.

The sensation of profound serenity and beauty produced by the evening colors and infinite horizon is impressive.

This work was painted for the Buen Retiro Palace of King Felipe IV (1605-1665) and is the companion of The Embarkation of Saint Paula Romana at Ostia (P2254), The Burial of Saint Seraphia (P2252) and Landscape with Moses saved from the waters of the Nile (P2253), which are also in the Prado Museum Collection.