Artwork

Le Départ du Christ avec ses disciples pour le jardin de Gethsémani

Le Départ du Christ avec ses disciples pour le jardin de Gethsémani is an oil painting by the Realist artist Nikolai Ge. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

About this work

Overview

Completed in 1894, *Le Départ du Christ avec ses disciples pour le jardin de Gethsémani* is an oil on canvas by Russian painter Nikolai Ge. The work presents a nocturnal departure of Jesus and his followers toward the Garden of Gethsemane, set against a dimly lit, ruinous interior where a faint moonlight filters through a small opening.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures the moment before the Passion, emphasizing the solemnity of the journey. Jesus, accompanied by his disciples, is shown in a state of quiet resolve, while the surrounding decay of the stone walls suggests the transitory nature of earthly existence and foreshadows the forthcoming sacrifice.

Technique & Style

Rendered in a realist manner, Ge employs strong chiaroscuro to model the figures against the shadowy backdrop. The interplay of muted tones and the limited light source accentuates the texture of the crumbling stone, the worn fabrics, and the uneven floor, creating a palpable sense of atmosphere and depth.

History & Provenance

Nikolai Ge, a prominent figure in late‑19th‑century Russian art, died the same year he finished this painting. The canvas entered the collection of Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of Russian religious and historical works.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nikolai Ge

Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge (Russian: Николай Николаевич Ге; 27 February 1831 – 13 June 1894) was a Russian painter who was influential in the development of Russian symbolism. He was famous for his works on historical and religious subjects.