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Not currently on display at the V&A

The Betrayal

Panel
15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The haloed and bearded Christ, wearing a gown and a cloak, stands in the centre of the panel and is shown embracing Judas. Next to Christ there is a soldier, wearing armour, whom Christ touches with his left hand. The soldier grasps Christ's cloak, drawing his sword with his right hand. The top of the panel is missing.

Judas identified Jesus to the soldiers by kissing him.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Betrayal (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved, painted and gilt alabaster
Brief description
Alabaster panel depicting the Betrayal. English, 15th century
Physical description
The haloed and bearded Christ, wearing a gown and a cloak, stands in the centre of the panel looking right; next to him is the bearded Judas who embraces him, his left hand on Christ's shoulder. Christ's right hand is simply raised and is neither in the usual position of blessing nor pointing downwards towards Malchus. Next to Christ is a soldier, wearing armour, whom Christ touches with his left hand. The soldier grasps Christ's cloak, drawing his sword with his right hand. Behind him is the damaged figure of another soldier. St. Peter, haloed and bearded, stands behind Christ on the left of the panel, holding his sheathed sword vertically in both hands. At his feet on a lower level is seated the figure of Malchus, wearing a short-belted tunic and boots, his right leg bent back, holding a staff in his left hand and holding his ear with his right hand. The ground at the bottom of the panel is unusually and intricately worked.

The top of the panel is missing. The bottom of Malchus' head is damaged. The head of the soldier in the top right corner is missing. The alabaster shows iron staining in the bottom left corner.

Traces of gilding remain on the hair and beards of Christ and St. Peter. Green paint remains on the ground, with traces of the usual daisy pattern. There are slight traces of red on the mouths of the figures. The back of the panel is deeply incised with a large vertical mark. The bottom has been cut away and also there has been scooped out a vertical trough three-quarters of the way up the panel. There are four lead plugs holding latten wires.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45.2cm
  • Width: 30.1cm
From Cheetham, English Medieval Alabasters, 1984.
Style
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Paris. On loan from him since 1924. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946.

Historical significance: A panel in the British Museum is similar, but the design is reversed.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The haloed and bearded Christ, wearing a gown and a cloak, stands in the centre of the panel and is shown embracing Judas. Next to Christ there is a soldier, wearing armour, whom Christ touches with his left hand. The soldier grasps Christ's cloak, drawing his sword with his right hand. The top of the panel is missing.

Judas identified Jesus to the soldiers by kissing him.
Bibliographic reference
Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 226 (cat. 153), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0
Collection
Accession number
A.57-1946

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Record createdNovember 13, 2002
Record URL
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