Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane

Francesco Cairo

Download hi-res image TITLE Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane
AUTHOR Francesco Cairo
DATE 1630 - 3
OBJECT TYPE AND MATERIAL Oil on canvas
DIMENSIONS cm 76 x 62
INVENTORY 4948
ROOM XXX
Work on display

Formerly in the Cugini collection in Bergamo, this picture may have been painted prior to Cairo’s move to the court of the House of Savoy. The artist frequently tackled this theme early on his career, but this version is slightly different on account of the presence in the foreground of a still-life with with the Instruments of the Passion. The treatment of the angel’s hair shows that he was familiar with Procaccini’s work and the naked arm echoes the style of Tanzio da Varallo, while the metallic appearance of the angel’s raiment is peculiar to Cairo.