Artwork
The Agony in the Garden
The Agony in the Garden is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1480 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Agony in the Garden is an engraving created by Martin Schongauer around 1480. It is a print that showcases the artist's technical skill and attention to detail.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrounded by sleeping disciples, with angels appearing above. The scene is set against a dark, rocky backdrop with distant figures, conveying a sense of isolation and foreboding.
Technique & Style
Schongauer employed cross-hatching to achieve nuanced shading and texture, evident in the detailed rendering of faces and clothing. The use of fine lines demonstrates the artist's mastery of engraving techniques characteristic of 15th-century German art.
History & Provenance
Martin Schongauer, active in Colmar from around 1450-1453 until his death in 1491, was a prominent figure in Northern European printmaking, influencing artists such as Albrecht Dürer.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
