Doubting Thomas (1613-1615)
Peter Paul Rubens 1577 – 1640
oil on panel (146 × 233 cm) — 1613-1615
John 20:27 - Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Thomas cannot believe that the man in front of him is really his master, risen from the dead, and demands proof – he insists on seeing the wounds from the crucifixion. Jesus shows him his hand, which has a clearly visible wound on it.
What is so striking about this painting is the absence of the wound in the side of Jesus, inflicted by the spear of a Roman soldier. On the side panels of the triptych we see the image of the commissioner of the painting - patrician of Antwerp, mayor and humanist Nicolaas Rockox - and his wife. The painting was intended for their vault.
>>> Doubting Thomas
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