![]() Immediately after the Last Supper, Jesus takes a walk in the garden of Gethsemane. Even the naturalistic trees flanking the central action increase the drama as they restrict the space around the central figure of Jesus. Agony in the Garden is familiar story and moment from the life of Christ. The glow from Jesus' halo in the center provides a spotlight on his face, while in the background the soldiers' torches-painted with tiny dots of gold paint-draw attention to the imminent danger. There are several different versions of this story but it relates to Christ praying whilst out walking in this garden. The naturalistic depiction of the dark night sets the mood, creating a dramatic setting for the events. ![]() Before Jesus, an angel kneels, offering the cup that symbolizes his acceptance of death on the cross. Bening emphasized Jesus' emotional isolation as he prays by showing him separated from the apostles by a fence and a fallen tree. In the center of the image, Jesus prays to God, while in the background the soldiers already approach to arrest him. ![]() In the foreground the apostles have fallen asleep despite Jesus' request that they keep watch. The gospels of Matthew and Mark identify this place of prayer as Gethsemane. To heighten the emotional tension, the artist compressed three events into one scene. Each Gospel offers a slightly different account regarding narrative details. There, according to the Gospels, the Lord asked his closest friends to pray with him as his soul became sorrowful unto death (Matt. ![]() Jesus goes with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. There, before the altar, is the rock on which Jesus fell and endured his agony in the garden on the night before he died. The Agony in the Garden opens the sequence of devotional texts interspersed with Passion miniatures. The events in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14: 3250) On this occasion Jesus’ human nature and his divine nature are clearly seen. Yet, despite that, Jesus did not allow his fears to turn him away from his passion and death. Through the dramatic miniatures in the prayer book he illuminated for Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, Simon Bening encouraged the viewer to identify with Jesus in his Passion. Returning to Jesus’ agony in the garden, the Gospels describe a man overcome with fear to the extent that it manifests in a bloody sweat. ![]()
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