Saint Thomas Aquinas
- Artist: Abraham Jansz. van Diepenbeeck
- Date: 1640 - 1650
- Medium: oil on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Saint Thomas Aquinas” by Abraham Jansz. van Diepenbeeck, painted sometime between 1640 and 1650. The artist, a Dutch painter active in the early Baroque, worked in oil on panel—a medium that gives the piece a rich, luminous quality.
Notice how the saint’s face is rendered with a calm, contemplative expression. The gentle shading and subtle use of light frame his profile, drawing attention to the thoughtful gaze that has become a hallmark of Diepenbeeck’s portrait work. The robe’s folds are painted with a restrained, almost almost painterly precision, suggesting the fabric’s weight without heavy detailing.
Diepenbeeck was known for his soft color palette and the way he used subtle gradations to create depth. Here, the muted blues and greens in the background provide a quiet backdrop that doesn’t compete with the figure. The small, delicate gestures—a hand resting on the chest, the slight tilt of the head—add an intimate feel that invites the viewer to imagine the saint in quiet meditation.
Overall, the painting exemplifies the early Dutch Baroque’s blend of realism and spirituality. It’s a beautiful example of how Diepenbeeck captured the intellectual dignity of a revered theologian while maintaining a gentle, approachable aesthetic.
See it in person
Saint Thomas Aquinas hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
