The Kiss of Judas and the Arrest of Christ - Hieronymus Wierix

A detailed Flemish engraving by Hieronymus Wierix depicting the betrayal and arrest of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

This engraving by Hieronymus Wierix depicts the biblical scene of the betrayal of Christ. Wierix, a member of a prolific family of engravers in Antwerp, was known for his technical precision and his ability to render complex narrative scenes within a compact format. The composition is crowded, reflecting the chaotic nature of the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the centre, Judas Iscariot embraces Jesus, providing the signal for the soldiers to identify their target. The surrounding figures are rendered with sharp, controlled lines, typical of the Flemish engraving tradition of the late sixteenth century. To the right, a soldier wields a halberd, while in the foreground, a man is depicted in a struggle, likely representing the moment Peter strikes Malchus. The use of cross-hatching creates depth and shadow, giving the figures a sculptural quality despite the relatively small scale of the print.

The inclusion of Latin text at the base, citing the Gospel of Matthew, serves to ground the image in its theological context. Wierix often produced such works for devotional use, and his mastery of the burin allowed for the fine details seen in the armour, the folds of the garments, and the expressions of the participants. The print demonstrates the technical rigour of the period, where the engraver functioned as both a craftsman and an interpreter of sacred history. The work remains a clear example of the Northern Mannerist style, which favoured a high degree of detail and a certain tension in the arrangement of figures. Collectors of early modern prints will recognise the characteristic clarity and disciplined line work that defined the Wierix workshop output during this era.