Martyrdom of St. Thomas

The Martyrdom of St. Thomas is a compelling religious painting created by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens during 1637–1638. Executed in oil on canvas, it depicts the martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle in Chennai, India, on July 3, 72 CE. The work, originally created for Prague’s St. Thomas's Church, exemplifies Baroque style with dynamic composition and dramatic intensity. Notably, Rubens includes classical architecture to represent an Indian building and a fantastical Hindu god, reflecting creative liberties and cross-cultural imagination. Today, it resides in Prague’s Národní Gallery.