The Doubting Thomas; Christ among his disciples, Saint Thomas touching Christ's wound, from "The Passion of Christ"
Original title: The Doubting Thomas; Christ among his disciples, Saint Thomas touching Christ's wound, from "The Passion of Christ", after Dürer
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the other sheets in Marcantonio Raimondi's engraved Passion series, this print centers on the encounter between the risen Christ and his disciples, when Thomas touches the Lord's wound. Made between 1500 and 1534, the engraving belongs to the 'Passion of Christ' cycle and derives from a composition by Albrecht Dürer.
Description
Christ stands barefoot at the center, wearing a simple robe belted with a sash, one arm raised as if to explain something. A bright patch behind his head sets it off. Around him the disciples gather, some bearded, all in ordinary clothing, their gaze directed toward him. The arrangement is symmetrical about the central figure, and light falling from behind heightens the otherworldly impression. The sheet is monochrome and packed with detail, as is typical of Renaissance printmaking.
Context
Raimondi made this engraving as part of a series that draws on Dürer's woodcut Passion. He became famous for reproductive engravings after Dürer and other masters, through which Renaissance inventions spread across Europe. The subject of Doubting Thomas was widely popular in the sixteenth century, for it addresses human doubt and faith at once.
Impact
The symmetrical layout and Christ's central position give the print a calm, dignified presence. The light background and precise linework create a solemn, almost devotional mood that draws the viewer into the biblical event.
Technique
This is an engraving, an intaglio process in which lines are cut into a plate and then filled with ink. The present second state of three indicates a plate that was further worked, allowing for nuanced details and shading. At roughly 13 × 10 cm, the format is small, pointing to a print intended for private devotion.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)