by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
Email: tomgurney1@gmail.com / Phone: +44 7429 011000
Agony in the Garden is one of a number of scenes created by Lorenzo Ghiberti for his twin north doors
This particular moment in Christ's life is directly between the Last Supper and Jesus' arrest. Both of those scenes are also part of his series of bronze panels. The episode involves Christ wandering off to prey for a moment or two, although the precise details have differences depending on which particular gospel you read.
Lorenzo Ghiberti produces his signature style of foliage in this panel, placing small trees at the top of the composition. Likewise, there is a rocky landscape in the near foreground that continues into most of the other 27 panels in his north doors series.
The artist put together these bronze sculptures via a specially made furnace which was built according to his requirements. The awarding committee financed everything for this project, from the broad range of materials to the assistants, wages and to rewarding the artist himself.
The angel flying in from the sky connects the main content of the artwork with the Almighty God and this symbolic gesture is used several times across these panels. The sculptures were originally fully gilted but most has been lost in the centuries that have passed since.
The Agony in the Garden was also used as inspiration in the careers of Heinrich Hofmann, El Greco, Andrea Mantegna, Caravaggio, Correggio and Giovanni Bellini.