The artwork titled “Arrest of Christ” was created by the artist Duccio between 1308 and 1311. This religious painting, executed with tempera on wood, is part of the Proto Renaissance art movement and belongs to the series known as “Maesta”.
The artwork depicts a highly dramatic scene centered around the moment of Christ’s arrest. The figures are arranged in a tightly packed composition, emphasizing the intensity and urgency of the event. The use of tempera on wood gives the painting a vibrant and luminous quality, while the detailed drapery and expressions on the faces of the figures highlight Duccio’s skill in conveying emotion and narrative. The central figure appears to be an apostle, brandishing a knife, suggesting a moment of conflict and resistance against the approaching captors. The surrounding figures are executed with meticulous attention to detail, their garments and postures reflecting the tension of the scene. As a work of the Proto Renaissance, the painting demonstrates an early exploration of naturalism and three-dimensionality, characteristic of the period’s gradual shift towards more realistic representations in art.
