Artwork
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Matthias Stom. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Matthias Stom painted *The Incredulity of Saint Thomas* in oil around 1640–49. The scene shows Thomas touching Jesus after the Resurrection. It hangs today in Madrid’s Museo del Prado.
Thomas doubted at first, but here he probes Jesus’ wound with his finger. Stom was a Dutch artist who worked in Italy later in life.
If you like this, look up chiaroscuro next.
Overview
Matthias Stom’s oil on canvas, titled *The Incredulity of Saint Thomas*, dates from the mid‑1640s. The work portrays the biblical moment when the apostle Thomas examines the wounds of the risen Christ. Currently the painting is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is displayed among other 17th‑century European works.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the episode from the Gospel of John in which Thomas, initially skeptical of the Resurrection, reaches out to touch the crucifixion marks on Jesus’ hands and side. By focusing on the tactile verification, Stom emphasizes the transition from doubt to belief, a theme that resonated with Counter‑Reformation audiences seeking tangible proof of faith.
Technique & Style
The illumination highlights the flesh of Christ’s wounds and Thomas’s probing finger, creating a three‑dimensional effect.
Stom employs a dramatic chiaroscuro, casting the figures in stark light against a deep, shadowed background. The illumination highlights the flesh of Christ’s wounds and Thomas’s probing finger, creating a three‑dimensional effect. The brushwork is precise in the facial expressions, while broader strokes render the drapery, reflecting the artist’s synthesis of Dutch realism and Italian Baroque influences.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed during Stom’s Italian period, likely while he was active in the artistic centers of Rome or Naples. After changing hands among private collectors, it entered the Spanish royal collection in the 18th century and was subsequently transferred to the Prado Museum, where it remains part of the permanent display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600 – after 1652) was a Dutch, or possibly Flemish, painter who is only known for the works he produced during his residence in Italy. He was influenced by the work of non-Italian…
