Artwork
The Arrest of Christ
The Arrest of Christ is a wood painting by the Mannerist artist Wolf Huber. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the moment of Jesus' capture in the Garden of Gethsemane, focusing on the betrayal by Judas Iscariot through the iconic kiss.
The painting portrays the moment of Jesus' capture in the Garden of Gethsemane, focusing on the betrayal by Judas Iscariot through the iconic kiss. This scene from the Passion narrative emphasizes themes of betrayal, sacrifice, and the inevitability of Christ's arrest, central to Christian theological interpretation of the Passion.
The composition includes Jesus, Judas, and the accompanying figures, with the kiss serving as the pivotal gesture signifying treachery. As a religious work within the religious art genre, it reflects contemporary devotional practices of the early 16th century, inviting contemplation on spiritual surrender and human frailty.
Technique & Style
The Arrest of Christ by Wolf Huber is a religious painting executed on a wood support, classified as a painting rather than a work on canvas or panel painting in another medium. The work measures 60.5 cm in height by 66.8 cm in width, giving it a horizontal format suited to its narrative subject. The depicted scene centers on the arrest of Jesus, with the figures of Jesus Christ and Judas Iscariot shown in the moment of the Kiss of Judas. The painting is held in the Bavarian State Painting Collections and housed at the Alte Pinakothek.
No additional information on handling, condition, pigment, or stylistic qualities is provided in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The Arrest of Christ is a religious painting created by Wolf Huber in 1530. Executed on a wood support, the work depicts the arrest of Jesus Christ, featuring figures such as Judas Iscariot. The piece is currently held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it resides at the Alte Pinakothek.
The dimensions of the panel are recorded as 60.5 cm in height and 66.8 cm in width. No specific details regarding the original commission, patron, or the chain of ownership prior to its current location are provided in the available records.
The Arrest of Christ by Wolf Huber is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is on view at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work, painted on wood and dated 1530, measures 60.5 by 66.8 cm. The painting depicts the arrest of Jesus, showing Christ, Judas Iscariot, and the Kiss of Judas.
No exhibition history or specific accession/inventory number is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Wolf Huber’s The Arrest of Christ (1530) is a wooden panel painting that captures the moment Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss. The composition centers on the kneeling Christ in a white robe, surrounded by armed men and a dark, forested backdrop, emphasizing the tension of the betrayal.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Wolf Huber (c. 1485 – 3 June 1553) was an Austrian- German painter, printmaker, and architect, who worked in Passau, Germany for most of his life as a leading member of the Danube school.
