Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane

This engraving depicts the Agony in the Garden, capturing the moment an angel descends from a divine light to offer Christ the cup of suffering. In the foreground, three disciples are slumped in deep sleep, with Peter clutching a sword hilt, while in the far background, Judas leads a group of soldiers through the garden gate. The work is executed in a historical style that pays homage to earlier Northern masters like Lucas van Leyden.

As part of Goltzius's 'Meisterstiche' or 'masterpiece' series, this work reflects the intellectual environment of the Haarlem Mannerists, who sought to synthesize technical mastery with the 'Spiritualist' movements of the late 16th century that emphasized internal mystical experience over outward ritual.