Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane 1584

Paolo Veronese painted this canvas of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, using oil paints and brushes in the late 16th century. The layering of oil paints on canvas allowed Veronese to achieve luminous effects, heightening the drama of the scene through contrasting light and shadow. Look closely and you’ll notice the angel, rendered with soft, diffused edges, and a palpable sense of divine presence, as opposed to the more sharply defined figure of Christ. Veronese’s choice of oil paint, traditionally associated with the fine arts, elevates this devotional image. Yet the earthy pigments remind us of the labor and materiality involved in its creation. Considering the context of production gives us a new way of approaching artworks like this. It allows us to appreciate the skills of the artist, and the cultural values embedded in the creative process.