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The Agony in the Garden

German 15th Century

1490

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

The Agony in the Garden is a 1490 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 15th Century
When & what style?: 1490 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows three figures in a garden at night. One person is kneeling and praying, hands clasped, while another stands nearby with a halo. The third figure, also haloed, sits on the ground, looking down. Behind them, a fence and trees glow faintly under a bright moon. The artist used bold colors and simple shapes to tell a story. The praying figure looks tense, with sharp lines showing stress. The moon and haloed heads suggest this is a holy moment. Next, look up technique: woodcut to see how artists carved these images.