Who painted The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ?

The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1510.

Where can I see The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ?

The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ?

The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ

Albrecht Dürer , 1510

The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1974.7
Credit line: Dudley P. Allen Fund

About this work

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ dates from around 1510. Part of a larger series illustrating episodes from Jesus’ life, the print presents the moment Judas identifies Christ in the garden. Executed in black ink on paper, the image measures roughly 20 × 15 cm and exemplifies Dürer’s mature printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures the instant of betrayal, with Judas pointing toward the kneeling figure of Christ while a crowd of armed men surrounds them. The tension between the calm, resigned Christ and the aggressive soldiers underscores the theological theme of loyalty versus treachery, a central motif in Passion narratives.

Technique & Style

Dürer employs crisp, intersecting lines and strong contrasts of light and shadow to give the figures a sculptural presence. The chiaroscuro effect, achieved through dense hatching, creates depth in the tangled foliage and the metallic gleam of armor, reflecting the print‑making conventions of early sixteenth‑century Northern Europe.

History & Provenance

Created in Nuremberg, the work belongs to Dürer’s “Small Passion” series, produced after his earlier large‑scale woodcuts and engravings. The series circulated among collectors linked to Emperor Maximilian I, who favored Dürer’s output, and several copies survive in European museum collections.

Context

The print demonstrates Dürer’s engagement with Italian Renaissance ideas, particularly the use of anatomical accuracy and spatial organization. At the same time, it retains the Germanic emphasis on intricate detail and narrative clarity, positioning the work at the crossroads of Northern and Southern artistic currents of the period.