The Agony in the Garden is a painting of 1455–1456 by the Italian artist Andrea Mantegna[1] in the National Gallery, London.
edit| Agony in the Garden | |
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| Artist | Andrea Mantegna |
| Year | 1455–56 |
| Medium | Egg tempera on wood |
| Dimensions | 62.9 cm × 80 cm (24.8 in × 31 in) |
| Location | National Gallery, London |
| Accession | NG1417 |
Description
editThe painting shows Christ (at the centre) praying before a group of cherubs floating in the sky(at upper left) who are holding instruments of the Passion. In the background are tall mountains and a city. Judas, the disciple who betrayed Christ, leads a group of soldiers (centre right) from Jerusalem to arrest him. Meanwhile Christ's disciples Peter, James, and John sleep (bottom).[2] A dead tree cuts across the far right of the painting with a dark bird perched on one of its branches. Three rabbits sit on the road next to what looks to be a river or canal. A distant palm tree is on the far right in front of the hills receding into the distance. There were two versions of this painting created by Mantegna. The painting itself consists of tempura on panel and is 62.9 by 80 cm. The second painting inspired by this biblical scene is also titled Agony in the Garden, (1457-9) and is located in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, albeit with different colors and composition[3].
Symbolism
editAgony in the Garden depicts a scene from the Bible depicting the moment Jesus Christ is betrayed by Judas and the scene shows Jesus praying to his Father God while three of his disciples sleep at his feet instead of keeping watch.
There is probable death symbology in the painting indicated by the vulture, which is a carrion bird, and the dried up tree. Other possible symbols include the pelicans and the young plant shoots, which could be symbols for positive times ahead. Ancient Rome buildings also crop up in the painting - three relics which include a column, a statue, and a theater[4].
History
editThe artist Andrea Mantega was considered a prodigy from an early age, and he went on to become a commissioned artist for public works in Padua in his teens. Mantega was deeply inspired by the classical era and became known for his dedication to showing classical structures or works in his artwork[5].
Mantegna's brother-in-law Giovanni Bellini is considered to have been inspired by this painting for his own depiction of the subject, painted between 1460 and 1465 and also in the National Gallery.
References
edit- ^ Boeck, Elena N. (29 April 2021). The Bronze Horseman of Justinian in Constantinople: The Cross-Cultural Biography of a Mediterranean Monument. Cambridge University Press. p. 350. ISBN 978-1-108-18706-0.
- ^ "Andrea Mantegna | The Agony in the Garden | NG1417 | National Gallery, London". The National Gallery. On webpage use menu to open flyout box for Key Facts, Description, or to Download Image. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Andrea Mantegna, about 1430/1 - 1506. The Agony in the Garden. Tempera on wood, about 1458-60. The National Gallery, London; Bought, 1894, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.15653762. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024. https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.15653762
- ^ Andrea Mantegna, about 1430/1 - 1506. The Agony in the Garden. Tempera on wood, about 1458-60. The National Gallery, London; Bought, 1894, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.15653762. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024. https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.15653762
- ^ Clark, Kenneth (August 1958). "Andrea Mantegna". Journal of the Royal Society of Arts. 106 (5025): 663–680 – via JSTOR.