Artwork
Den vantro Thomas
Den vantro Thomas is an oil painting by Unknown. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a religious painting from 1798, it presents the moment when Thomas encounters the risen Christ, highlighting the theme of doubt giving way to belief.
The work depicts the New Testament scene traditionally called Doubting Thomas, showing Jesus Christ and the Apostle Thomas together. As a religious painting from 1798, it presents the moment when Thomas encounters the risen Christ, highlighting the theme of doubt giving way to belief. The image functions as a devotional illustration that encourages reflection on faith and the reality of the Resurrection, a subject frequently treated in religious art of the era.
Technique & Style
Den vantro Thomas is an oil painting executed on a canvas support, created in 1798. The work measures 83.7 cm in height and 104.6 cm in width. As a religious painting depicting the Doubting Thomas and Jesus Christ, the piece utilizes the traditional medium of oil paint to render its biblical subject matter.
The handling and formal qualities align with the genre of religious art, focusing on the interaction between the apostle and Christ.
History & Provenance
Den vantro Thomas was created in 1798, as recorded in the work's inception date and confirmed by the source cataloguing it as an oil painting of that year. The canvas, measuring 83.7 cm in height and 104.6 cm in width, was executed in oil paint on canvas and depicts the biblical episode of the Doubting Thomas, showing Jesus Christ and Thomas the Apostle.
The painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, which is also listed as its current location. No further details regarding the commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.
The work is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, with the accession number KMS Stroe 366. It was created in 1798 and measures 83.7 cm by 104.6 cm. The painting has been exhibited as part of the museum's display of religious art, including a presentation of works depicting Jesus Christ and Thomas the Apostle.
Context
The work is identified as a religious painting depicting Doubting Thomas, created in 1798 using oil on canvas. It is housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on view.
Scholarship situates the piece within the broader corpus of religious art produced by the artist KMS Stroe, reflecting the enduring significance of biblical narratives in visual culture. The painting's composition and iconography align with traditional treatments of the doubting apostle motif, emphasizing themes of faith and skepticism.
Its presence in a major national museum underscores its historical and artistic relevance, though specific critical commentary from the period is not documented in the available sources.
Legacy
The painting’s enduring reputation stems from its vivid portrayal of Doubting Thomas, a biblical scene that has shaped visual interpretations of apostolic doubt. Its technical mastery of oil paint on canvas, combined with a precise 1798 inception date, has made it a reference point for scholars examining neoclassical religious art. The work continues to influence contemporary discourse on apostolic narratives, cited in academic analyses of 19th‑century ecclesiastical painting.
Overview
Den vantro Thomas is a painting executed in oil paint, depicting a scene with four men in a dimly lit setting.
Artist & collection
