Interactive masterpiece

The Agony in the Garden

BIBLE VERSE(s)- Matthew 26:36-46 and Mark 14:32-42 describe

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)

In Mark 14:34-38, Jesus asks them to stay awake and pray, as he experiences deep sorrow and anguish. Jesus leads his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and instructs them to "sit here while I go over there and pray." He takes with him Peter, James, and John, the closest of his disciples, to share a more intimate moment. In Raphael’s depiction of this scene, the three disciples are portrayed with mournful expressions, their faces turned away from Jesus as he kneels in prayer. Their posture and body language suggest a deep sorrow, yet they remain physically distant from him, not knowing what to do. Jesus, sitting high on his knees, prays longingly, his body language showing surrender and anguish. In the verse he asks them to stay awake and keep watch. Raphael faces the disciples' turned-away to emphasize their inability to remain positive and supportive, despite Jesus' words. The body positions and angles of the figures convey a silent somber tension.

Location and position

In Mark 14:34 Jesus is depctied as feeling so much sorrow that it is unbearable. There are five faces present in Raphael’s depiction, each expressing varying degrees of heavy emotion. In the Bible, Jesus is described as experiencing profound distress—grief, anxiety, and despair—as he contemplates the suffering and separation he will soon face. He says it feels as though these emotions alone could lead to deat itself. However, in Raphael’s artwork, Jesus’ face doesn’t appear as grief-stricken as the faces of the disciples. Instead his expression seems more blank or "numb." This could be interpreted as a depiction of the emotional detachment that sometimes accompanies overwhelming distress. This depection might suggest that Jesus is in a state of emotional numbness, which contrasts the greif stricken expression depicted by Mark.

Emotion

In Mark 14:43, it says, "An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him," but it doesn’t elaborate on the angel’s interaction with Jesus. Raphael, however, includes an angel in the scene, offering comfort to Jesus. The angel is depicted above Jesus, holding the chalice. The angel’s presence in Raphael’s painting adds a layer of spiritual support that is notably absent in the Gospel account. In Mark, Jesus is largely alone in his sorrow, but Raphael’s depiction suggests that Jesus is not completely abandoned. The angel’s gesture feels pure and divine, providing comfort and reassurance during the overwhelming distress and heavy emotion that Jesus was feeling. This addition removes some of the extreme loneliness and isolation emphasized in the Gospel which contrasts with the emotional intensity of the scene.

The Angel

In Mark 14:37-38 Jesus pleaeds for his disciples to stay awake. At first, when I was analyzing this painting, I thought the disciples’ faces were filled with deep emotion and sadness. I hadn’t realized their eyes were closed. This mirrors the way both Mark and Matthew describe the disciples in the Gospels: they repeatedly fell asleep despite Jesus asking them to sit, pray, and keep watch. What I find interesting is that, upon realizing their eyes were shut, the scene took on a slightly different meaning for me. Raphael crafted their faces in such a way that it’s not just about them being asleep; it gives the impression that they are emotionally removed and saddened by the situation. The action of sleeping still plays a central role, but in Raphael’s portrayal, it feels heavier and more dramatic than in the biblical verses. The disciples’ sleep seems suggests physical fatigue aswell also denial when Jesus needed them most.

Actions / Asleep

In Mark’s passage, the time of day and the use of light are not really mentioned, so seeing these elements laid out visually in Raphael’s painting adds an interesting emotional layer. Raphael uses light and shadow to create a soft atmosphere that enhances the mood of the scene. Jesus is a sort of light color, wearing a light gray cloak, with the light cast upon him, drawing the viewer's eye to him first. In contrast, the disciples appear heavy and distant, their figures enveloped in shadow ( or in the foreground ) , which emphasizes their emotional and physical detachment from the moment. The contrast between the light surrounding Jesus and the darkness surrounding the disciples visually represents the emotional tension in the scene again.

Style ( light and shadow )