Artwork
Christ Appears to St. Thomas
Christ Appears to St. Thomas is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Franz Anton Maulbertsch. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition underscores the theological message of Christ’s physical resurrection and the necessity of faith, even in the face of uncertainty.
Franz Anton Maulbertsch’s Christ Appears to St. Thomas (1764) depicts the biblical episode known as the Doubting Thomas, recounted in the Gospel of John (20:24–29). The painting portrays the moment when the apostle Thomas, who initially doubted Christ’s resurrection, is invited by Jesus to touch his wounds. This scene serves as a visual affirmation of faith, emphasizing the transition from skepticism to belief through direct physical evidence.
Iconographically, the work centers on the interaction between Christ and Thomas, with Christ’s exposed side wound and extended hand symbolizing both his sacrifice and divine authority. The apostle’s gesture, often depicted as reaching toward the wound, highlights the tension between doubt and conviction. The composition underscores the theological message of Christ’s physical resurrection and the necessity of faith, even in the face of uncertainty.
Technique & Style
Franz Anton Maulbertsch executed this 1764 canvas using oil paint on linen, depicting the biblical moment of Doubting Thomas with a focus on tactile verification of Christ's wounds. The composition emphasizes Christ's outstretched finger and Thomas's probing hand, rendered in a Baroque style marked by dramatic chiaroscuro and dynamic figure modeling. The work measures 64 cm in height by 43 cm in width, showcasing Maulbertsch's characteristic loose brushwork and vivid coloristic interplay across the canvas surface.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1764 by Franz Anton Maulbertsch as an oil on canvas work commissioned for the religious series at the Belvedere in Vienna. It entered the collection of the Belvedere, Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains today.
The artwork depicts the Doubting Thomas moment and has been part of the museum's holdings since its creation, reflecting a continuous ownership chain tied to the institution.
Christ Appears to St. Thomas is held in the collection of the Belvedere in Vienna, as recorded in the Wikidata entry for the work. The painting is catalogued within the Belvedere holdings alongside a related collection reference to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources.
No exhibition history is documented in the sources supplied.
Context
Created by Franz Anton Maulbertsch in 1764, Christ Appears to St. Thomas is a religious oil painting that depicts the biblical moment of the Doubting Thomas. The work is part of the collection at the Belvedere, housed within the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. As a piece of religious art from the mid-18th century, it reflects Maulbertsch's engagement with scriptural narratives during his career.
The painting measures 64 cm in height and 43 cm in width, presenting the central figures of Jesus Christ and Thomas the Apostle.
Overview
Created in 1764, this oil painting by Austrian artist Franz Anton Maulbertsch portrays the moment when the resurrected Christ reveals himself to the doubting Apostle Thomas. Executed in the Rococo idiom that Maulbertsch helped define in Central Europe, the work now belongs to the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Franz Anton Maulbertsch (7 June 1724 – 8 August 1796) was an Austrian painter and engraver, one of the most renowned exponents of Rococo painting in the German and Hungarian regions.
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