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The Taking of Christ

The Taking of Christ

Caravaggio · 1602

Collection National Gallery of Ireland (on indefinite loan from the Jesuits) · Dublin

Zoom in to the brushstrokes

The eyes of Jesus hidden in this painting — what secret lies behind them?

Key Points

  • Caravaggio's depiction of the arrest of Jesus, with a dramatic contrast of light and shadow
  • The kiss of Judas, the sword of the disciple Peter, and the tension of the arrest scene
  • The painter's hidden self-portrait within the painting, and the mysterious source of light
  • A painting missing for 200 years, kept secret by the Jesuits

Reading the Work

What's Depicted

This painting depicts the moment Jesus is arrested through the kiss of his disciple Judas. Jesus stands at the center, Judas kisses him from behind, and Peter holds a sword. Three soldiers and a man holding a lantern also appear in the scene.

Into the Painting

The painting is set against a dark background, with light falling sharply to reveal the faces of Jesus and Judas clearly. The light comes from the upper left, and the man holding the lantern at the far right may be a self-portrait of Caravaggio. The gleaming metal on the soldier's arm in the painting is regarded as a mysterious symbol.

Why It's a Masterpiece

In this painting, Caravaggio created a mysterious atmosphere through the dramatic contrast of light and shadow. This technique became a hallmark of Baroque art and vividly conveyed the scene of Jesus's arrest, having a great influence on art history.

Behind the Painting

A painting missing for 200 years

This painting disappeared until the 18th century, and was rediscovered in the 1990s among works kept by the Jesuits in Ireland. It was initially mistaken for a copy by another painter, but restoration work revealed it to be an authentic work by Caravaggio.

Who is the man holding the lantern?

The man holding the lantern at the far right of the painting may be a self-portrait of Caravaggio. This figure is thought to represent Peter, the first to betray Jesus, and his light is interpreted as a symbol of bringing Jesus to the world.

The symbol hidden in the soldier's arm

The gleaming metal on the arm of the soldier at the center of the painting was used by Caravaggio as a mysterious symbol. It represents a mirror reflecting divine light, intended to make the viewer reflect upon themselves.

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Further reading · National Gallery of Ireland · Public domain
Image: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Last updated 2026-07-17