The artwork titled “Taking of Christ,” created by Caravaggio in 1602, is an oil painting on canvas that exemplifies the Baroque and Tenebrism art movements. This religious painting, measuring 133 x 169 centimeters, is housed in the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland.
The artwork vividly depicts the moment of Jesus Christ’s arrest, encapsulating the dramatic intensity characteristic of the Baroque period. The scene is charged with emotion and movement, highlighted by the use of tenebrism—a technique that emphasizes stark contrasts between light and shadow. The central figures, including Jesus, Judas, and the soldiers, are rendered with meticulous detail and dynamic expressions, drawing the viewer’s attention to the pivotal act of betrayal. The interplay of light and darkness not only enhances the dramatic effect but also underscores the gravity of the event portrayed, making it a quintessential example of Caravaggio’s mastery in capturing human emotion and divine narrative.
