St. Thomas, from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul with the Creed

Art Historical Context

Behold *St. Thomas, from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul with the Creed a masterful engraving by Hendrick Goltus, created around 1589. Goltzius, a leading Dutch artist of the Mannerist period, was renowned for his extraordinary skill in printmaking, producing intricate works that rivaled painting in depth and expressiveness. This print is part of a devotional series featuring Christ, the Twelve Apostles, and St., each holding scrolls inscribed with verses from the Apostles' Creed foundational Christian statement of faith. At just 5 7/8 x 4 1/8 inches on the plate, its compact scale belies the monumental presence of St. Thomas, the apostle known for his initial doubt in Christ's resurrection. Goltzius engraving technique shines here, with his signature swelling line work—bold, varied strokes that mimic the fluidity of brushstrokes—creating dramatic chiaroscuro effects and lifelike textures in Thomas's robes and thoughtful gaze. Mannerism's elegant elongation and dynamic poses infuse the figure with spiritual intensity, making this print a prime example of Northern European graphic art during the late Renaissance, amid religious tensions of the Reformation era. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work highlights engraving's power as a reproducible medium, allowing widespread dissemination of sacred imagery to inspire faith among the faithful. A gem for visitors, it captures Goltzius's innovative genius in miniature form.

About the Artist

Hendrick Goltzius · 1558–1617

Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617) was the most celebrated engraver of the Northern Renaissance and a pivotal figure in Dutch Mannerism. Born near the German-Dutch border, Goltzius transformed printmaking into a virtuoso art form through his revolutionary 'swelling line' technique, where the burin was manipulated to create lines of varying thickness that produced unprecedented tonal effects and three-d...