Artwork details · 2026-08-11

Christ before the High Priest

by Gerard Van Honthorst · 1617

Christ before the High Priest by Gerard Van Honthorst

Artist

Gerard "Gerrit" van Honthorst was a Dutch Golden Age painter who became known for his depiction of artificially lit scenes, eventually receiving the Italian nickname Gherardo delle Notti. Early in his career he visited Rome, where he had great success painting in a style influenced by Caravaggio. Following his return to the Netherlands he became a leading portrait painter. Van Honthorst's contemporaries included Utrecht painters Hendrick ter Brugghen and Dirck van Baburen.

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Artwork

Christ Before the High Priest is an oil on canvas painting by Dutch artist Gerard van Honthorst, created around 1617. It now hangs in London's National Gallery. It depicts Jesus Christ being questioned by the High Priest Caiaphas shortly before being sentenced to death.

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Quick facts

Artist
Gerard Van Honthorst
Year
1617
Movement
Baroque
Country
Netherlands
Location
National Gallery