Christ in the garden of olives at Gethsemane

Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, with its nocturnal setting and emotional extremity, was ideally suited to Stom’s Caravaggist vocabulary. This 1631 version in Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie was painted during Stom’s Roman period, when he was working alongside other northern Caravaggists. The subject demanded a convincing depiction of moonlight or angelic radiance, allowing Stom to demonstrate his command of supernatural illumination. Stom's mastery of candlelight effects was among the most technically accomplished of all Caravaggist painters, surpassing many of his contemporaries in the subtlety of his graduated shadows and the warmth of his artificial illumination.

The angel’s appearance provides the light source, casting Christ’s agonized face into sharp relief against the sleeping disciples in darkness below. Cool blue-white light contrasts with the warm earth tones of the garden setting.