Artwork
Christ on the Mount of Olives (Wurzach altarpiece)
Christ on the Mount of Olives (Wurzach altarpiece) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Multscher. It dates from 1437 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1437 by Hans Multscher, this oil painting portrays the biblical Agony in the Garden. Executed during the early Northern Renaissance, the work is part of the Wurzach altarpiece and is presently housed in Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a kneeling figure crowned with thorns, hands uplifted in prayer, embodying Christ’s moment of anguish. Surrounding soldiers in armor, spears and clubs convey the imminent threat, while a small white figure with a staff hovers above, underscoring the spiritual tension of the scene.
Technique & Style
Multscher employs oil paint to achieve a nuanced night atmosphere, rendering the garden’s foliage and the metallic sheen of armor with careful attention to texture. The visual language reflects a synthesis of northern French and Netherlandish influences, evident in the detailed rendering of figures and the dramatic chiaroscuro.
History & Provenance
Born in Ulm, Multscher became a free citizen there in 1427 and operated a workshop with his brother Heinrich. The painting remained in the region until it entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, where it is displayed today.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Multscher (ca. 1400–1467) was a German sculptor and painter. Multscher was born in Reichenhofen (today Leutkirch im Allgäu). He made himself acquainted with new artistic styles from northern France and the…
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