Saint Thomas

The drawing Saint Thomas is an important study executed in Italy sometime between 1600 and 1799, created after the High Renaissance master Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520. This drawing classification reflects the enduring influence of Raphael’s compositions and figure studies long after his death. The tradition of copying the works of great masters was central to artistic education in early modern Italy, allowing students and practitioners to dissect and internalize the formal and narrative qualities of celebrated Renaissance figures.

The anonymous artist employed a sophisticated, layered technique to render the form of the apostle. The study utilizes graphite and brush with a subtle brownish orange wash, which provides depth and shadow, characteristic of preparatory or finished 17th or 18th-century drawings. Red chalk was also incorporated, likely to enhance contours or highlight anatomical features. The work is executed on cream laid paper, which was later carefully laid down on ivory wove paper for preservation. This complex medium demonstrates the effort expended by the copyist to capture the plasticity and emotional intensity inherent in the original design by Raphael.

The sustained interest in Raphael’s designs generated numerous prints and preparatory drawings throughout Europe. This particular piece, executed centuries after the original masterwork, contributes to the scholarly understanding of reception history and artistic pedagogy in Italy. The work currently resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making the study accessible to scholars and the general public. As part of its educational mission, the Art Institute often shares high-resolution images of such culturally significant works through public domain initiatives.