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The Betrayal of Christ

Unknown

1500

oil

panel

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Northern Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

The Betrayal of Christ is a 1500 oil by Unknown, a Northern Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1500 · Northern Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a dramatic scene with several figures in the foreground. Jesus is being seized by a group of men, while another figure in the background looks on. The scene is set against a backdrop of trees, hills, and a body of water. In the foreground, the figures are dressed in colorful robes, with Jesus wearing a blue robe and the men surrounding him wearing red, green, and yellow. The painting is done in oil paint and features a range of colors, from the deep blues and greens of the background to the vibrant reds and yellows of the figures' robes. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds to the drama of the scene. You might want to learn more about the technique of chiaroscuro.