An arrangement for reducing the electric field strength on the face of an electrode, wherein the face of the electrode is surrounded by at least one electric barrier, and a shielding electrode having a defined voltage potential is disposed in the vicinity of the face of the electrode. By using a retaining element that can be connected directly to the face of the electrode, the shielding wires can be quickly and easily positioned and fixed relative to the face of the electrode and the shielding electrode relative to the face.