The Betrayal and Capture of Christ

This painting 'The Betrayal and Capture of Christ' is a continuous narrative meaning it represents different points in time within the same frame. This was a very common way for European artists during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to depict famous stories from religion and ancient myths. Two important episodes from the story of Jesus' life are painted here -we see him praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night he was arrested, and the moment he was captured. These scenes were written about in the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In the upper left corner of this painting a figure with outstretched arms represents Christ praying as a messenger angel appears with a cross, foretelling Christ's Crucifixion. Behind him, three of Jesus's disciples (Peter, James, and John)

sleep serenely, unaware of the importance of the night.

The center of this painting represents a later moment during the same night, when Judas greeted Jesus with a kiss on the cheek. This was the signal Judas agreed to make so the soldiers with him knew who to arrest.

[Norton Museum of Art]