Christ with Doubting Thomas and the Apostles

Art Historical Context

Henri Lehmann’s “Christ with Doubting Thomas and the Apostles,” created in the mid-19th century, depicts a well-known New Testament episode in which the resurrected Christ invites the skeptical Thomas to touch his wounds. Surrounded by the other apostles, the scene explores themes of faith, doubt, and revelation that have inspired artists for centuries. Lehmann, active during a period when many European artists revisited religious subjects with renewed interest, brings a measured, contemplative quality to this intimate encounter. The work is executed in graphite with touches of watercolor on wove paper, a combination that allowed the artist to combine precise line work with delicate color accents. Its small scale—just 13.1 by 15.7 centimeters—suggests it may have served as a preparatory study or a private devotional drawing rather than a large finished painting. Such modest formats were common among 19th-century artists exploring narrative themes in the studio. Now in the collection of the National Gallery of Art through the generosity of John O’Brien, the drawing offers today’s visitors a quiet window into how biblical stories continued to resonate in European art long after the Renaissance.

About the Artist

Henri Lehmann · 1814–1882

French, Kiel 1814–1882 Paris