The Betrayal of Christ

By Bartolomeo di Tommaso, ca. 1445–50
JPG • 3811 × 1964 PX • 2.5 MB
Curatorial Notes

This painting depicts the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Olives following Judas Iscariot's betrayal. Created around 1445–1450, it originally formed part of the predella, the lower section of an altarpiece whose original setting remains unknown. A particularly interesting detail appears in the upper right corner: a young man flees naked, leaving his clothing behind. This scene refers to the Gospel of Saint Mark (Mk 14:51–52), which describes a young man who escaped from the soldiers during Christ's arrest. Although the Gospel does not identify him, artistic tradition associated him with different disciples, explaining the halo surrounding his head. The mountainous landscape, nocturnal sky, and emphatic gestures of the figures reveal Bartolomeo di Tommaso's expressive style, which favored dramatic intensity over the naturalism characteristic of other Renaissance painters.

Artwork Identification

Title The Betrayal of Christ
Title (PT) A Traição de Cristo
Title (ES) La traición de Cristo
Artist Bartolomeo di Tommaso
Artist Bio Bartolomeo di Tommaso (c. 1408–1454) was an Italian painter born in Foligno, in the Umbria region, active during the first half of the 15th century. He worked in cities such as Ancona, Fano, and Rome, where he received commissions from Pope Nicholas V for the Vatican. His paintings combine elements of the Late Gothic style with features of the early Renaissance, distinguished by expressive figures, dramatic compositions, and limited concern for conventional rules of perspective.
Date ca. 1445–50
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta