Artwork
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jusepe de Ribera. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents Thomas the Apostle holding a spear, an attribute that identifies him as a martyr who earned his title through the episode recounted in the Gospel of John when he demanded physical proof of the resurrected Christ's wounds. Ribera’s composition emphasizes the apostle’s contemplative gesture and the dramatic chiaroscuro that underscores his spiritual doubt and eventual affirmation of faith. By foregrounding the spear, the work links Thomas to themes of skepticism, revelation, and the vindication of belief, resonating with Counter‑Reformation concerns about reason and divine evidence.
The figure thus embodies the tension between empirical inquiry and religious conviction, a notion reinforced by the saint’s inclusion among the eleven other apostles who witness the risen Christ.
Technique & Style
Saint Thomas is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium and support consistent with Jusepe de Ribera's tenebrist practice.
Saint Thomas is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium and support consistent with Jusepe de Ribera's tenebrist practice. The work measures 75 cm in height by 62 cm in width, a relatively modest format suited to its devotional subject. Its religious genre and the depiction of Thomas the Apostle with a spear reflect Ribera's characteristic handling of sacred figures through stark chiaroscuro and unembellished naturalism, though detailed condition notes are not recorded in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Saint Thomas is an oil painting by Jusepe de Ribera dated to 1630. According to the Wikidata record, the work was created in 1630 and depicts Thomas the Apostle with a spear. The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
The documented ownership chain identifies Ferdinand VII of Spain as a former owner of the work, indicating that the painting passed through the Spanish royal collection before entering the museum's holdings. The sources do not provide further details about the original commission, early provenance, or the circumstances of its transfer to the Museo del Prado.
The painting Saint Thomas by Jusepe de Ribera is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it holds inventory number P001084. It entered the collection of Ferdinand VII of Spain before being accessioned by the museum.
The work was created in 1630 and originally belonged to Ferdinand VII, who transferred it to the Prado.
It has been part of the permanent display at the Museo del Prado since its accession.
Overview
Saint Thomas is a 1630 oil painting by Jusepe de Ribera, a prominent Spanish Baroque artist working in Italy. The work is part of the early Baroque Italian movement and is housed in the Museo del Prado.
Context
This work reflects Ribera's contribution to the early Baroque movement in Italy, characterized by intense emotional and psychological depth, achieved here through the portrayal of Thomas's solemn demeanor.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian:; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
