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Secondary sourcePainting1610

Thomas Aquinas Joins the Dominican Order

1610

A 1610 engraving from a 30-print series on Aquinas's life shows the young Thomas kneeling among Dominican friars as he takes the habit.

A later devotional print imagining Aquinas's joining of the Dominican Order, part of a series on his life story.

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Engraving of a young man with a halo kneeling in chains before a group of Dominican friars in black and white habits, who lean toward him; a small inset at upper right shows a kneeling youth before a crucifix. Latin inscription below.
Thomas Aquinas Joins the Dominican Order, print, 1610. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

About this source

What it is

This engraving, made in 1610, is one print from a thirty-part series depicting the life of Thomas Aquinas, held by the Rijksmuseum. It shows the young Thomas kneeling in chains before a group of Dominican friars, with a small inset scene showing him kneeling before a crucifix.

Why it matters

This print comes from centuries after Aquinas's life and reflects how his entry into the Dominican Order was retold as a dramatic, divinely guided moment. The imagery of chains and vision suggests the story was shaped to inspire devotion rather than record exact events.

Look closer

  • Why might the artist show Thomas in chains in this scene?
  • What is the purpose of the small inset image, and how does it change the meaning of the main scene?
  • What might this dramatic retelling leave out about the real decision to join the Dominicans?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Thomas Aquinas on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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