Capture of Jesus Christ
Fra Angelico·1450
Historical Context
Capture of Jesus Christ, painted around 1450 and part of the San Marco Passion cycle, depicts the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane—the moment Judas identified Christ to the soldiers with a kiss, and Peter drew his sword to defend him. The scene was among the most dramatically charged in the Passion narrative, combining betrayal, violence, and the beginning of Christ's path to the Cross. Fra Angelico's San Marco cycle addressed the Passion with devotional rather than theatrical intention, making even violent scenes quieter and more contemplative than comparable works by his contemporaries.
Technical Analysis
The nighttime setting of the arrest—torchlit and dark—posed atmospheric challenges within Fra Angelico's typically luminous palette. He likely uses a simplified nocturnal setting rather than detailed chiaroscuro, with figures identifiable through colour and gesture rather than by dramatic light-dark contrasts.
