In the context of Martyrdom of Saint Thomas (Rubens), explore the Saint Thomas of the Stylistic Choices.
According to Pedro de Ribadeneyra's Flos Sanctorum, Saint Thomas wore an old cloak and dressed like a poor man. He was also described to have "incompta caesarie" and "vilis, despectus, inops"; uncombed hair with a common, unsightly, and impoverished look. Uncommon to the time in which Thomas lived, he was depicted barefoot with unusual dress for an Apostle, wearing a cowl similar to the ones worn by mendicant friars. To make Thomas appear as a member of the Augustinian order in Prague, Rubens decided to dress the Apostle similarly, with bare feet. The purpose of doing so was to generate feelings in the Augustinian observers to view Saint Thomas as a model and serve their faith better because his martyrdom. The posture of the dying Apostle is similar to that of dying Laocoön. The sculpture was widely known by sixteenth and seventeenth century artists because of its example of grief and agony and was held in a high regard. During his stay in Rome, Rubens had drawn several perspectives of the sculpture to use it for future references, such as this painting.
mendicant friars Saint Thomas Laocoön Pedro de Ribadeneyra Apostle Prague