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Lot Essay
This moving and tender little plate, depicts the moment as Jesus is struggling with His fate, but ultimately accepting of His sacrifice. It is one of the most heartrending episodes in the Life of Christ, related in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. The scene in this etching, as in most depictions of the subject, is a composite of elements from all three Gospels.
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:36-43)
Mark’s version is very similar, but the angel comforting Jesus is based on Luke’s account:
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 21:43)
Rembrandt shows the moment the angel is giving solace to Jesus in his agony, as Judas and the soldiers approach in the distance through the city gate. The three disciples can be seen sleeping at the foot of the Mount of Olives, oblivious of the impending danger. The moon is breaking through the clouds, illuminating the desperate scene. It is astonishing how Rembrandt conveyed such drama and emotion in so small a format.
Being executed to large parts in drypoint, the plate wore quickly, and later impressions without burr lack atmosphere and depth. The present, cleanly wiped impression prints with considerable burr and strong contrasts, and effectively evokes the nocturnal aspect of the scene and the internal drama of this poignant moment.
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:36-43)
Mark’s version is very similar, but the angel comforting Jesus is based on Luke’s account:
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 21:43)
Rembrandt shows the moment the angel is giving solace to Jesus in his agony, as Judas and the soldiers approach in the distance through the city gate. The three disciples can be seen sleeping at the foot of the Mount of Olives, oblivious of the impending danger. The moon is breaking through the clouds, illuminating the desperate scene. It is astonishing how Rembrandt conveyed such drama and emotion in so small a format.
Being executed to large parts in drypoint, the plate wore quickly, and later impressions without burr lack atmosphere and depth. The present, cleanly wiped impression prints with considerable burr and strong contrasts, and effectively evokes the nocturnal aspect of the scene and the internal drama of this poignant moment.