Self Portrait as Bystander

Caravaggio (1573-1610)
Painting: The Taking of Christ, c. 1602

The Taking of Christ is an example of a Baroque painting. It shows the dramatic moment when Jesus was betrayed by his friend Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the back left corner of the painting there is a man holding a lantern. He is not one of the apostles and he is not one of the guards.
Quesiton: Who might this person is likely to be?

Take a close look at the way he is holding the lantern.
Imagine that you are holding a heavy lantern. How would you lift it?

Imitate this man’s hand and think about what you would hold like that.

 


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