The Incredulity of Thomas

Hendrick ter Brugghen · c. 1622
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Hendrick ter Brugghen came home to Utrecht after about ten years in Italy, where he had seen the paintings of Caravaggio. Around 1622 he painted this scene in that manner: half-figures close up, strong light against a plain wall.

Jesus draws aside his white cloth, and Thomas, in red, puts his finger into the wound. The others crowd in to see — one old apostle even peers through spectacles.

From the text

“Put your finger here and look at My hands” (John 20:27)

“Reach out your hand and put it into My side” (John 20:27)

The disciples together in a room, Thomas with them (John 20:26)

The artist’s own

An old apostle wearing spectacles, unknown in Jesus’ time

Only four disciples, packed into one close group

Thomas actually touching the wound — the text does not say whether he did

Details

Jesus

He looks down at Thomas as he holds the cloth aside.

The finger

Thomas pushes his finger into the wound in the side.

Thomas

In a red cloak, he bends forward, staring at the wound.

Spectacles

An old, balding apostle peers through a pair of glasses.

Reaching in

The old apostle’s hand stretches towards the wound.

At the back

Two more apostles crowd in; one in a green hood raises his hand.

Hendrick ter Brugghen, Dutch, c. 1588–1629. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (purchased with the support of the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum; SK-A-3908) · Oil on canvas · Image: "Public Domain" (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/); object metadata: CC0 1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) — Rijksmuseum Linked Art record.

The verses

John 20:24–29Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”