Artwork
The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is a drawing by Thomas Dalling Barlee. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Lord's Supper is a mid-19th-century drawing by Thomas Dalling Barlee, dated circa 1850, currently part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The setting includes a simply adorned room with wooden ceiling beams, stone walls, and a window framing a distant landscape.
The drawing depicts a scene of the Last Supper with 13 men seated around a long table, engaged in eating, conversation, and expressions of surprise or confusion, with a central figure gesturing with raised hands. The setting includes a simply adorned room with wooden ceiling beams, stone walls, and a window framing a distant landscape. Table settings of plates, cups, and bread are meticulously detailed.
Technique & Style
Barlee employed fine lines to achieve detailed shading and textures, evident in the rendering of beards, the tablecloth, and other elements, creating a sense of depth and dimensionality without the use of color. This method, akin to cross-hatching, demonstrates the artist's skill in line work to convey volume and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created around 1850, the drawing is now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, though specific details of its creation context or earlier ownership are not provided in the available information.
Context
While the broader artistic context of the piece is not elaborated here, its subject matter aligns with a long tradition of depicting the Last Supper in Christian art, though the medium of drawing sets it apart from more commonly known paintings on the theme.
Legacy
The drawing's impact or influence on subsequent art is not specified in the provided details, focusing instead on its descriptive and technical aspects within the Victoria and Albert Museum's holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
This London-based draftsman spent his evenings in the British Museum’s print room, copying old masters by candlelight.
