Arrest of Christ

The soldiers, led by Judas, are just crossing the wooden gate, shattering the peace and quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane. The rock protruding from the left and the “cup of bitterness” above it remind us that just moments ago Jesus was praying here, and His beloved disciples were sleeping peacefully, unaware of the impending tragedy.

The composition is extremely dynamic. The Messiah is beaten, pulled, and dragged by His hair, though Peter has come to His defense, raising his sword against Malchus, the servant of the high priest. The executioners are dressed in contemporary armor, albeit somewhat stylized. According to medieval convention, the extraordinary, sometimes even fantastical decorations were meant to distinguish Christ’s oppressors from noble Christian knights.

The bizarre costumes, along with the caricatured facial features, were intended to clearly express the character flaws and simply ridicule the vile soldiers in the eyes of devout Christians.