The Three Archangels and Tobias

From the left, the painting depicts the archangels Michael, in armour and ready to fight the devil; Raphael, holding the young Tobias by the hand; and Gabriel, bearing the lily of the Annunciation to Mary. They feature magnificent wings, an iconographic element adapted from the Winged Victory of the classical world. The archangels watch over Tobias while he journeys on behalf of his father. This biblical theme was close to the hearts of Florentine merchant families and was considered an auspicious omen for their children's future. From the 15th century onwards, this iconography spread widely, becoming the definitive representation of the popular devotion dedicated to the Guardian Angel. In Florence, this devotion inspired the Confraternity of the Archangel Raphael, which from 1455 held a chapel in Santo Spirito—the very location for which Botticini’s painting was executed.