St. Thomas the Apostle, in an initial on the lower corner of a leaf, from an illuminated Antiphoner, on vellum [northern Italy (Bologna), thirteenth century]

lower corner of a leaf, 295mm. by 163mm., with an initial ‘O’ (opening “O Thoma [Didyme qui Chri]stum meruist[i] …”, the antiphon for the feast of the saint, 21 December) in light brown on a blue and light brown ground, enclosing a half-length figure of the saint, with his right hand raised in blessing, while he holds a book in his left hand, remains of four lines of text in brown ink in Latin with music on a 4-line red stave, rastrum 24mm., small scratches  and spots, folds on three sides for framing, else in good condition

St. Thomas, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus (meaning ‘twin’), is best known for questioning Jesus’ Resurrection after death. According to the Gospel of John (20:24-29), Thomas was absent from Christ’s appearance to the Apostles, and announced that unless he could thrust his hand into Christ’s side, he would not believe what he had been told. Eight days later Christ appeared to Thomas and asked him to place his finger in his wound to convince him. The simple but expressive style of the face, with almond eyes and a long line-drawn nose, compares well to other northern Italian miniatures of the late thirteenth century (cf. the miniature in the copy of Aegidius Romanus, De regimine principum, Paris, BnF, Lat. ms.6477, in Avril and Gousset, Manuscrits enluminés d’origine Italienne, II, 1984, no.21, pl.x).