1598
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Passion: The Betrayal of Christ is a 1598 by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene of betrayal, with a group of men surrounding a central figure. The central figure, likely Jesus, stands calmly amidst the chaos, while the men around him appear agitated and violent. One man grasps Jesus' arm, while another holds a sword and looks up at him with a mixture of anger and fear. In the background, a dark and ominous sky looms, with clouds that seem to swirl around the figures. The overall mood of the painting is one of tension and foreboding, as if the events unfolding before us are about to take a tragic turn. To learn more about the artistic techniques used in this painting, explore the concept of chiaroscuro.
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
See the richer artist page
