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Overview
Born in the city of Leiden, Lucas van Leyden was the first Dutch engraver to achieve wide acclaim in his lifetime. He made about 200 prints, mostly engravings, but also woodcuts and a few etchings. He met Albrecht Dürer in 1521 during the German artist's year-long visit to the Netherlands, and Dürer drew Lucas's portraits and bought a set of his prints. It is likely that Lucas simultanously acquired some of Dürer's prints, as his influence is evident in Lucas's work in the early 1520s.
This print, the seventh in a series of 14, dates from much earlier. Lucas was a child prodigy artist, and this impressive series, made when he was just 16, shows no signs of immaturity. In 1845, the pioneering Anglo-Irish art historian and iconographer Anna Jameson described it as 'magnificent in point of feeling'. This engraving depicts the apostle St Thomas, famous for having originally doubted Jesus's resurrection but retracting when he saw the wounded body of 'My Lord and my God'. Accounts from the 3rd century AD tell of his extensive travels to preach the Gospel: some claim that he died in present day Chennai (Madras) and he is often regarded as the Patron Saint of India. Portayed as an imposing, venerable bearded man by van Leyden, he holds the pilgrim's staff and a large bound holy volume.
See: David Maskill, 'Lucas van Leyden 1494-1533 Netherlands', in William McAloon (ed.), Art at Te Papa (Wellington, 2009), p. 26.
Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art January 2017