Duccio carefully differentiated among
the anger of Peter, the malice of Judas (echoed in the faces of the
throng about Jesus), and the apprehension and timidity of the fleeing disciples. These figures are actors in a religious drama the artist
interpreted in terms of thoroughly human actions and reactions. In
this and the other narrative panels, for example, Jesus’ Entry into
Jerusalem (fig. 14-10a), a theme treated also by Giotto in the Arena
Chapel (fig. 14-8a), Duccio took a decisive step toward the humanization of religious subject matter.
