Arrest of Jesus (top); Agony in the Garden (bottom)

This double-register panel depicting the Arrest of Jesus and the Agony in the Garden forms part of the reverse (back predella) of Duccio di Buoninsegna's monumental Maestà altarpiece, commissioned in 1308 by the Opera del Duomo of Siena. The Maestà was the most ambitious altarpiece of its era, narrating Christ's Passion across dozens of scenes on its reverse. Completed by 1311, it remained the high altar of Siena Cathedral until 1505 and established Duccio as the founder of the Sienese school of painting.

Painted in egg tempera on poplar panel with lavish gold leaf backgrounds. Duccio's narrative composition employs expressive gestures and spatial depth unusual for the period, with subtle modeling of faces through green earth underpaint and layered flesh tones.