The University of Kansas

Master of Alkmaar

Netherlands, active ca. 1504-1524
Arrest of Christ
Gift of the Mark L. Morris, Jr. Family, 92.37

The painting by the Master of Alkmaar shows the Arrest of Christ, with St. Peter in the foreground cutting off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. The leafy, sunlight trees on green cliffs, the rich colors, variety of expressions (especially note Malchus and the man blowing a horn), as well as the close attention to surface detail, and violent gesture, reflect the new Northern European attention to naturalisn in depicting biblical scenes.