Artwork
The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ in Gethsemane
The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ in Gethsemane is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the moment of Christ’s betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, showing Jesus identified by Judas’s kiss and accompanied by armed soldiers.
The painting portrays the moment of Christ’s betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, showing Jesus identified by Judas’s kiss and accompanied by armed soldiers. It is classified as religious art and was executed by Jacob Jordaens in 1624 using oil on canvas, measuring 470 cm in height and 665 cm in width. The composition emphasizes the dramatic encounter, with the figures of Christ, Judas, and the soldiers forming the central narrative of the arrest. This subject reflects the broader thematic focus on the Passion within the artist’s oeuvre.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas in 1624, the work exhibits Jordaens’s characteristic handling of fluid, luminous paint applied in layered, blended strokes to model the figures and drapery.
The composition centers on a dense knot of agitated figures, with Christ’s arresting soldiers and Judas’s kiss sharply illuminated against a dark Gethsemane backdrop. Jordaens employs strong chiaroscuro to dramatize the scene, heightening emotional tension through exaggerated gestures and expressive faces.
The painting’s robust, sculptural forms and earthy palette align with the Antwerp Baroque style of the 1620s, emphasizing narrative immediacy over idealized refinement.
History & Provenance
The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ in Gethsemane is an oil painting on canvas created by Jacob Jordaens in 1624. The work depicts the biblical scene of Jesus Christ in Gethsemane alongside figures such as Judas Iscariot and soldiers. Currently, the painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The artwork measures 470 cm in height and 665 cm in width.
The painting is housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it is catalogued as part of the museum's holdings. Its dimensions measure 470 cm by 665 cm, and it is executed in oil on canvas. The work was created in 1624 by Jacob Jordaens, depicting the moment of Christ’s betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Exhibition records are not detailed in the documented sources, so no specific exhibition history can be provided at this time.
Overview
Jacob Jordaens’ 1624 oil on canvas, The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ in Gethsemane, captures the biblical moment when soldiers seize Jesus in the garden. The composition centers on Christ, surrounded by a tumult of figures, including Judas delivering the identifying kiss. The work is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection.
Context
Jordaens worked within the Baroque tradition that emphasized theatricality and emotional engagement, often drawing on biblical themes for moral instruction. This work aligns with contemporary Counter‑Reformation art, using vivid storytelling and dramatic lighting to reinforce the gravity of Christ’s passion and the moral consequences of betrayal.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques (Jacob) Jordaens (19 May 1593 – 18 October 1678) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and a designer of tapestries and prints.
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