Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane by Correggio (Antonio Allegri)

It is impossible to overestimate the role of light in the works of Correggio. The artist has always attached great importance to lighting, contrasts of light and shadow. For example, in the early work of Judith, the “gusty” light from the torch, which the maid keeps in her hands, emphasizes that everything is done secretly, under the cover of night.

In the painting “Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane”, 1528 light is also extremely important. But here we are talking about the divine light coming from, on the one hand, the head of Christ, on the other – from the angel hovering over Him. This light snatches from the darkness the figure of the Savior, dressed in white, and designates the figures of sleeping apostles, seen in the depths of the picture.