Artwork
The Last Supper
The Last Supper is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomeo Carducci. It dates from 1605 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Bartolomeo Carducci, an Italian artist active around the turn of the 17th century, completed The Last Supper in 1605. This oil painting captures the pivotal biblical event of Christ's final meal with his apostles. The work exemplifies the early Italian Baroque style and is currently housed in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the solemn moment of the Last Supper, where Jesus shares a final meal with his twelve disciples. Christ, positioned centrally with a subtle halo, maintains a composed demeanor, his hands clasped. Around him, the apostles react with varying degrees of contemplation and distress, some leaning in or resting their heads, conveying the emotional weight of the impending events.
Technique & Style
Carducci's approach to this scene reflects the emerging Baroque aesthetic.
Carducci's approach to this scene reflects the emerging Baroque aesthetic. He employs dramatic contrasts of light and shadow to emphasize the central figure of Christ, whose face and shoulders are illuminated against the darker surroundings. The composition places the figures around a long, white-clothed table, creating a sense of intimacy within a grand architectural setting of tall arches and subdued lighting from a distant window.
History & Provenance
Bartolomeo Carducci, also known as Carducho, was an Italian painter who established a significant career in Spain. His work on The Last Supper in 1605 falls within this period of Spanish patronage, where he contributed to the artistic landscape of the Iberian Peninsula. The painting's presence in the Museo del Prado underscores its historical importance within Spanish royal and institutional collections.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomeo Carducci (1560 – 14 November 1608) was an Italian painter, better known as Carducho, the Spanish corruption of his Italian patronymic.
