Artwork
Doubting Thomas
Doubting Thomas is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Mattia Preti. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the apostle Thomas inserting his finger into the wound of the resurrected Christ, emphasizing doubt transformed into faith.
The painting shows the apostle Thomas inserting his finger into the wound of the resurrected Christ, emphasizing doubt transformed into faith. Thomas is depicted with a slender hand extended toward the side of Christ, while the risen figure gestures toward his own wound, underscoring the moment of skeptical inquiry. The composition draws on biblical narrative from the Gospel of John, where Thomas requires physical evidence of the Resurrection, embodying the tension between belief and questioning.
Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 187 cm by 145.5 cm and was created by Mattia Preti in 1660 for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains part of the collection.
The iconography highlights the theme of doubt preceding belief, a recurring motif in Counter-Reformation religious art that sought to engage viewers intellectually and spiritually. By portraying Thomas in the act of touching the stigmata, Preti visualizes the process of doubt giving way to conviction, reflecting broader theological discussions about faith and evidence. This representation aligns with the artistic trends of the period, as seen in exhibitions such as 'Caravaggio and Bernini,' which contextualized Preti's work within the dynamic religious art of the 17th century.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 187 cm by 145.5 cm. Its surface bears the characteristic handling of Preti’s late Baroque style, with dramatic chiaroscuro and a naturalistic rendering of the doubting apostle. The composition emphasizes the tactile moment of touch, reflecting the artist’s mastery of spatial depth and emotional tension.
History & Provenance
The painting Doubting Thomas was created by Mattia Preti in 1660 as an oil on canvas work measuring 187 cm by 145.5 cm. It depicts the biblical scene of Thomas questioning the risen Christ, aligning with its religious genre. The work entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it has been displayed as part of exhibitions such as Caravaggio and Bernini. Its creation falls within the broader timeframe of 1660 to 1700, reflecting the artistic activity of the period.
The painting Doubting Thomas by Mattia Preti is held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is catalogued under inventory number KHM 1125. Its accession details correspond to the museum’s collection of religious paintings, and it entered the museum’s holdings in the early 18th century, within the period 1660–1700 documented for its creation. The work has been exhibited in the museum’s presentation "Caravaggio and Bernini," highlighting its significance within the Baroque context.
Dimensions are recorded as a height of 187 cm and a width of 145.5 cm, consistent with the oil-on-canvas format described in the source. No additional exhibition records beyond this presentation are noted in the available documentation.
The painting depicts the apostle Thomas examining the stigmata of the risen Christ, a scene drawn from the biblical narrative of doubt and faith.
Overview
Mattia Preti’s oil on canvas, dated 1660, portrays the biblical episode of Thomas’s doubt. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and presents a dramatic encounter centered on the resurrected Christ displaying the wounds of his crucifixion.
Context
The work aligns with Baroque interests in dramatic narrative and emotional engagement, echoing the theological debates of post‑Council of Trent Catholicism. By visualizing Thomas’s doubt, Preti contributes to a broader artistic tradition that uses corporeal evidence of Christ’s wounds to affirm the reality of the resurrection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Mattia Preti was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Saint John.
