Artwork
The Arrest of Jesus
The Arrest of Jesus is a paint painting by the Italo Byzantine artist Master of San Martino alla Palma. It dates from 1330 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1330, The Arrest of Jesus is an early‑fourteenth‑century panel painted by the Florentine artist known as the Master of San Martino alla Palma. The work exemplifies the Italo‑Byzantine tradition and is presently housed in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. Its composition centers on the moment of Christ’s capture, surrounded by a varied group of figures rendered in vivid costume.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays the biblical episode in which Jesus is seized by soldiers. He stands at the centre, bound and clothed in a red robe beneath a black mantle, while a woman in a purple garment embraces him. Around them, kneeling and armed men in assorted robes and helmets convey the tension of the moment, underscoring themes of betrayal and sacrifice.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the painting employs the flat gold background typical of Byzantine influence, while subtle chiaroscuro models the figures, giving a modest sense of depth. The vivid coloration of robes and the precise rendering of armor reflect the transitional aesthetic between medieval iconography and emerging naturalism in early Italian art.
History & Provenance
The artist, a follower of Bernardo Daddi, received his conventional name from an altarpiece once displayed in the parish church of San Martino alla Palma near Florence. After passing through various private collections, the panel entered the Berlin Gemäldegalerie, where it remains part of the museum’s medieval holdings.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of San Martino alla Palma
The Master of San Martino alla Palma (formerly called the Amico di Daddi) was a Florentine painter active during the first third of the fourteenth century.
