Christ on the Mount of Olives
“Behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” Beyond the sleeping disciples we see the soldiers (led by Judas, as described in the Bible). But Rembrandt has condensed the narrative here: despite his imminent arrest, Jesus is still praying, supported by an angel. His abandonment in prayer recalls the poses Rembrandt developed in the painted sketches in the middle section of the exhibition.
Rembrandt (Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn) (1606 – 1669)
circa 1655
Pen, brush, brown ink, and gouache on Japanese paper – H. 18.4 cm; W. 30 cm – Inscription bottom left: Rembrt. – Kupferstichkabinett, Kunsthalle, Hamburg, 22413
circa 1655
Pen, brush, brown ink, and gouache on Japanese paper – H. 18.4 cm; W. 30 cm – Inscription bottom left: Rembrt. – Kupferstichkabinett, Kunsthalle, Hamburg, 22413
© Hamburger Kunsthalle / BPK, Berlin, Distr. RMN / Christoph Irrgang