In Martyrdom of Saint Thomas (Rubens), how is the Stylistic Choices discussed?
Rubens, never traveling to India himself, used a variety of influences and stories to create this painting. It is thought that Rubens used the story of Saint Thomas from the Legenda Aurea, or Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine. Rubens also used the accounts of India and Asia in the book India Orientalis by brothers Theodor and Israel De Bry to guide his understanding of what the other figures and Asia might look like. In the background, we can see a coconut and areca palm tree, which was meant to indicate the oriental context to this painting. The Christian Paradise is said to be flanked with palm trees, making palms are a symbol of enteral life in Christian belief. Here, Rubens uses the palms as a symbol of Saint Thomas's eternal life that succeed martyrdom.
Saint Thomas Jacobus de Voragine coconut Golden Legend areca palm Paradise Legenda Aurea