The Betrayal of Christ

Sassetta's treatment of this sacred subject in 1437 exemplifies the fifteenth-century approach to sacred subjects, balancing theological orthodoxy with artistic innovation. Painted in the early fifteenth century, a transformative period in European art, the work draws on centuries of iconographic tradition while expressing Sassetta's individual interpretation of the divine narrative. The decades around mid-century saw the establishment of major artistic dynasties and workshop traditions that would train the next generation of Renaissance masters.

Sassetta employs skilled technique and careful observation to convey the spiritual gravity of the subject. The treatment of the figures shows careful study of earlier masters, while the palette and lighting create the devotional atmosphere the subject demands.