“Christ on the Mount of Olives” is a religious painting by Albrecht Durer, a renowned artist from the Northern Renaissance. This artwork forms a part of the series depicting the Passion of Christ. Durer’s work is known for its meticulous detail and emotional expression, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance period.
The drawing captures the intense and anguished moment of the Biblical scene where Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane just before his betrayal and arrest. The central figure of Christ is kneeling and looking upwards, an embodiment of fervent prayer and divine connection. His hands are raised, either in supplication or as a gesture of receiving divine communication. Above him, an angel appears amidst clouds, perhaps as a messenger of God, offering comfort or conveying the Father’s will to Jesus.
To the left of Jesus, three disciples—likely Peter, James, and John—are depicted sleeping on the ground, oblivious to the spiritual turmoil and agony that Jesus is enduring just a short distance away. Their slumber contrasts sharply with the vigilance and emotional intensity of Christ’s prayer. The scene is rendered with delicate lines that hint at the natural setting of the Mount of Olives, while also emphasizing the somber, introspective mood of the narrative. Albrecht Durer’s signature is seen towards the bottom right, with the artist’s famous monogram “AD”.
