Saint Thomas 1485 - 1505

This engraving of Saint Thomas was created around the late fifteenth century by Master FVB. During this period, the power and authority of the Catholic Church was frequently questioned, especially around issues of truth and knowledge. Master FVB presents Saint Thomas, known for doubting Jesus's resurrection until he could feel the wounds himself, with a unique set of attributes: a book and a right angle. These symbols transform Thomas into a figure of intellectual authority. How might these symbols challenge the singular, faith-based doctrine of the church? Thomas holds a tool used for measurement, emphasizing the role of empirical evidence in understanding the world. The book could symbolize knowledge gained through study and reason, which at the time, was a privilege of the upper class. The choice to depict Thomas with these items reflects a shift towards valuing rational inquiry. It invites us to consider how knowledge is constructed and validated, and whose voices are amplified in the process.