The Capture of Christ
- Subject
- Late Gothic retable depicting scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus
- Author, school, workshop
- Wit Stwosz (ca. 1448-1533)
- Contributor
- -
- Style
- Late Gothic
- Date
- 1477-1489
- Type
- Altarpiece in the form of a pentaptych
- Material and technique
- Wood/carving, gilding, polychrome
- Size
- 2,5 × 2,3 m
- Signatures and inscriptions
- -
- Identity number
- -
- Department
- -
- Links/analogies
- -
- Owner
- Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow
- Copyright
- Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow
- Location
- Saint Mary's altar (by Wit Stwosz) in the presbytery
- Description
- Soldiers led by Judas are just crossing the wooden gate, shattering the peace and quiet of the Garden of Olives. The rock standing out to the left and the 'cup of bitterness' visible above it remind us that only a short while ago, Jesus was praying here, and the beloved disciples were sleeping peacefully without even sensing the tragedy to come. The composition is extremely dynamic. The Messiah is beaten, tugged and dragged by the hair, although Peter has stood up for Him and is about to swing his sword at Malchus, the high priest's servant. The executioners are dressed in contemporary armour, subject, however, to a certain stylisation. According to medieval convention, the unusual, sometimes even fantastic decorations were intended to distinguish Christ's executioners from noble Christian knights. The bizarre costumes and caricatured facial features were intended to express character flaws and simply ridicule the vile soldiers in the eyes of pious Christians.
