The Betrayal and Capture of Christ
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 8 5/16 × 5 15/16 in. (21.1 × 15.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.100.196
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the dimly lit Garden of Gethsemane, Israhel van Meckenem the dramatic moment of Christ's betrayal in *The Betrayal and Capture of*, a poignant engraving from the late 15th century. Northern Renaissance master, active in Germany, depicts Jesus surrounded by soldiers and men, with Judas's infamous kiss sealing his fate—a scene drawn from the Gospels that has inspired countless artists. Van Meckenem's work reflects the era's intense religious devotion, where such images served as aids for meditation on Christ's Passion. As an engraving, measuring just 8 5/16 × 5 15/16 inches, the print showca...
About the Artist
Israhel van Meckenem · 1435–1503
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445–1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a pioneering German engraver and goldsmith based in Bocholt, near the Dutch border, renowned as the most prolific printmaker of the fifteenth century. Born into a family possibly of Dutch origin, he was the son of Israhel van Meckenem the Elder, a goldsmith who settled in Bocholt in 1457. He trained initially ...