Incredulity of Thomas c. 17th century

Curator: Let's look at Giovanni Battista Pasqualini's depiction of the "Incredulity of Thomas," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a stark, almost confrontational image, doesn't it? The harsh lines and intense gazes... it's very immediate. Curator: Indeed. Pasqualini's use of stark contrast and tightly controlled cross-hatching creates a very compelling sense of drama. Notice how the light emphasizes the wounds? Editor: It's like he wants us to feel Thomas's disbelief – but also the undeniable reality of the resurrection. The composition really draws the eye into that central interaction, a literal point of contact. Curator: Precisely. The piece invites us to consider the complex relationship between faith and empirical evidence. Editor: It's a tough question, and Pasqualini's image leaves me pondering where I stand.