Who painted The Incredulity of St Thomas?

The Incredulity of St Thomas was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1634.

Where can I see The Incredulity of St Thomas?

The Incredulity of St Thomas is held by Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

What movement is The Incredulity of St Thomas?

The Incredulity of St Thomas is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of The Incredulity of St Thomas?

Museum-quality prints of The Incredulity of St Thomas are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Incredulity of St Thomas

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1634

The Incredulity of St Thomas is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays the biblical episode known as the Incredulity of Saint Thomas, in which the apostle Thomas encounters the resurrected Christ.

The painting portrays the biblical episode known as the Incredulity of Saint Thomas, in which the apostle Thomas encounters the resurrected Christ. As indicated by its title and the depiction of Thomas the Apostle and Jesus Christ, the work visualizes the moment of Thomas’s doubt and subsequent verification of the resurrection. The religious genre situates the scene within a theological context, emphasizing themes of skepticism, the demand for tangible proof, and the transition from disbelief to faith.

Through the interaction of the two figures, the image invites contemplation on the nature of belief and the role of direct experience in affirming spiritual truth.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1634, this religious painting by Rembrandt utilizes oil paint applied to a panel support. The work measures 53.1 cm in height and 50.5 cm in width. Stylistically, it is categorized within the Dutch Golden Age movement and depicts the biblical episode of Doubting Thomas, featuring Jesus Christ and the Apostle Thomas as the primary subjects.

History & Provenance

The Incredulity of St Thomas was painted by Rembrandt in 1634, as indicated by the work’s inception date. After its completion the panel entered the collection of the Prussian merchant and art dealer Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky, who is recorded as an early owner. Subsequently the painting became part of the holdings of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, where it remains today; the museum’s collection is also noted as overlapping with that of the Hermitage Museum. No specific commission or patronage details are provided in the available sources.

The Incredulity of St Thomas is currently held at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. Although historical records indicate the work was once part of the Hermitage Museum collection, the current location is specified as the Pushkin Museum. The painting was originally owned by Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky prior to its museum acquisition. Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available documentation.

Overview

Created in 1634 by Rembrandt van Rijn, a central artist of the Dutch Golden Age, this oil on canvas portrays the biblical episode in which the doubting apostle Thomas touches Christ’s wounds. The composition centers on a luminous figure in a white robe, surrounded by companions in darker garments, set against a deep, shadowed background that heightens the drama of the encounter.