The artwork titled “Judas Receiving Payment for His Betrayal” by Giotto, created circa 1304 to circa 1306, is a fresco from the Proto Renaissance art movement. It is part of the “Scenes from the Life of Christ” series and measures 200 by 185 centimeters. This religious painting is located in the Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel in Padua, Italy.
The fresco captures the moment when Judas Iscariot receives payment for betraying Jesus Christ. Central to the composition is Judas, garbed in a voluminous golden robe, engaged in a transaction with a man draped in a red garment, presumably one of the high priests. To Judas’s left, a dark, shadowy figure ominously symbolizes diabolical influence. The architectural element in the background introduces depth and situates the scene within a significant structure. The expressions and gestures of the figures highlight the gravity and treachery of Judas’s actions, emphasizing themes of betrayal and moral conflict within the biblical context. Giotto’s mastery in conveying emotion and narrative through his visual compositions is evident in the detailed and compelling portrayal of this pivotal moment.
