The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (Caravaggio)
| The Incredulity of Saint Thomas | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Caravaggio |
| Year | 1601-1602 |
| Type | Oil on canvas |
| Location | Sanssouci, Potsdam |
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas is a painting by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, c. 1601-1602. It is housed in the Sanssouci of Potsdam, Germany.
This picture seems to belong to the same group as The Inspiration of Saint Matthew and the Uffizi The Sacrifice of Isaac because the same model reappears as the apostle at the apex of this composition. Like Saint Matthew and the Angel this picture belonged to Vincenzo Giustiniani and then entered the Prussian royal collection. Fortunately it was kept in Potsdam and so it survived the last war intact. This is the most copied painting of Caravaggio, 22 copies from the 17th century are known.
According to St John's Gospel, Thomas missed one of Christ's appearances to the Apostles after His resurrection. He therefore announced that, unless he could thrust his hand into Christ's side, he would not believe what he had been told. A week later Christ appeared, asked Thomas to reach out his hands to touch Him and said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
This drama of disbelief seems to have touched Caravaggio personally. Few of his paintings are physically so shocking - his Thomas pushes curiosity to its limits before he will say, "My Lord and my God". The classical composition carefully unites the four heads in the quest for truth. Christ's head is largely in shadow, as He is the person who is the least knowable.