Trial of Jesus - Caiaphas Rips His Robe

During Biblical times, Jewish people ripped their clothes when they heard blasphemous (that is, religiously irreverant) words.  In this scene, painted by Giotto (between 1304-06), the high priest Caiaphas rips his clothes when he hears Jesus acknowledge that He is the son of God.

Giotto painted this fresco - Christ before Caiaphas - at the Arena Chapel (Cappella Scrovegni) in Padua, Italy.  It is part of his Scenes from the Life of Christ.

Click on the image for a closer view.