1509
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ in Gethsemane (Agony in the Garden) is a 1509 ink by Lucas van Leyden, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a rocky hillside at night, with three sleeping figures curled under a tree. In the distance, a small village glows faintly. The edge of the scene is framed by swirling decorative patterns—leaves, scrolls, and tiny faces peeking from the corners. The year "1509" is stamped at the top, marking when this was made. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth in the shadows and folds of the figures’ robes. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal.
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
See the richer artist page
