Betrayal of Christ

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Giotto, The Betrayal of Christ, c. 1306

This painting depicts the kiss of Judas, during Jesus's arrest in the new testament. It was finished in 1306. It currently resides in the Arena chapel in Padua, Italy. Jesus is, as usual, marked with Giottos signature halo, as is Peter. 

The chaos of the scene below contrasts with the calmness of the dark blue sky above. The faces of the subjects are drawn in painstaking detail, which allows the observer to feel what the subjects do. The chaos and emotional turmoil is reflected on the faces of Judas and the other disciples, while Jesus maintains a composure that is both serene and angry as if to say, "Don't lie to me Judas, I know it was you." While the rest of the scene is a violent tumult, Jesus serves as a calm center, focusing the observer on him. 

I really like this painting, not just because of the numerous shades of blue, but because of the way Giotto sets the scene. he doesn't just paint it with colors and details, he paints with emotions. The observer doesn't just see chaos, they feel it. Within the chaos, the contrast of the faces of Jesus and Judas give off sadness, too. And its this skill for emotion that made Giotto such an influential painter.

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