The Agony in the Garden
1514 - 1519. Oil on pine panel.Room 057
In keeping with the Gospel according to Saint Luke (22: 39-46), Christ, far from the disciples, kneels down with his hands separated and prays to the Father to take away the cup of suffering he must drink, represented by the chalice on the rock. The three apostles who accompany him, Peter, John and James, are asleep. The painting comes from the main altar piece of the church of San Lázaro in Palencia.
This and three other panels by Juan de Flandes (P02935, P02937, P02938) belonged to the main altarpiece at the Church of San Lázaro in Palencia. They were financed by Sancho de Castilla, the former preceptor of the ill-fated Prince Juan, heir to the Catholic Kings and patron of that church since 1508.