Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)
Medium
Pen and black ink over underdrawing in gray and brown ink, brush and gray wash
Dimensions
7-5/8 x 10-5/16 in. (19.3 x 26.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1880
Accession Number
80.3.139
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing captures a pivotal moment from the New Testament, as described in Matthew 26:36-46. Christ kneels in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, his face turned upward in quiet anguish, while his disciples sleep nearby. The scene foreshadows the events of the Passion, emphasizing themes of solitude, sacrifice, and divine will that resonated deeply with Christian audiences around 1600. Created with pen and black ink over delicate underdrawing, accented by gray wash, the work showcases the expressive possibilities of draftsmanship during the late Renaissance. Federico Zuccaro, a l...