During the arrest of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene Peter tried to protect Christ with a sword and in the ensuing struggle cut off Malchus’s ear. This painting depicts the miracle of Christ extending his hand and healing the ear.
The over-crowded composition and the dramatic lighting recall the treatment of this subject by Caravaggio and his followers. This might be the work of one of many Netherlandish painters who emulated Caravaggio's expressive style in the 1620s.
- TitleChrist Healing the Ear of Malchus
- Object numberB.M.632
- Collection
- Creator
- Production placeNetherlands
- Production period17th century
- School/styleFlemish
- Object name
- Material
- Technique
- Dimensions
- Length: 96.9 cm
- Width: 121.2 cm
- Length: Frame 125 cm
- Width: Frame 150.5 cm
- Depth: Frame 8.5 cm