Agony in the Garden

This etching differs considerably from the remaining preparatory studies. Christ’s struggle is already over. He seems to be staring at the cup. The disciples are far in the background. The Saviour kneels, untouched by the raging storm; only His hands, ready to receive the chalice, reveal emotion. D�rer is as inventive as ever. This drawing too gives the impression of a tough and impetuous pen drawing rather than an engraving and already takes advantage of the etching technique in order to blend the clair-obscur effects of the preceding phase with the expressive literalism and grand pathos of the Large Passion. The plate of this etching is preserved at the Staatsbibliothek in Bamberg.