Doubting Thomas (Spandrel Design) n.d.

Domenico Pozzi rendered this ink drawing, Doubting Thomas, a design for a spandrel, sometime in the late 18th century. It shows the moment when the apostle Thomas, skeptical of Christ’s resurrection, is invited to touch Jesus’ wounds. The motif of touching or probing a wound carries potent symbolism, echoing through centuries. In earlier art, the motif of "wounded healer" figures like Chiron represents a being who bears scars. This probing evokes the deeper human need to confront and understand suffering, both physical and spiritual. Thomas’s gesture embodies this primal urge to verify the truth through tangible experience. Consider the emotional weight of this scene; the tension between faith and doubt, the human desire for proof in the face of the unknown. The act of touching, of seeking evidence through physical contact, highlights our collective struggle to reconcile belief and empirical reality. This image of Thomas extends far beyond its biblical context, touching upon enduring aspects of human psychology.