Artwork
The Supper at Emmaus
The Supper at Emmaus is an ink print by the Romanticist artist José del Castillo. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
José del Castillo, a Spanish artist active in the late eighteenth century, produced an etching titled *The Supper at Emmaus* in 1778. Executed on laid paper, the print depicts a nocturnal interior scene in which three figures are gathered around a modest table, while a distant landscape reveals a hill crowned with a cross.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the biblical moment when the risen Christ reveals his identity to two disciples during a meal. One figure gestures upward, suggesting an explanation, while the others appear uncertain, emphasizing the sudden recognition and spiritual revelation central to the narrative.
Technique & Style
Castillo employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate to render the textures of clothing, stone walls, and the soft illumination of the room. The use of laid paper contributes a subtle tonal quality, and the delicate hatching conveys depth and materiality within the Neoclassical aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Created during Castillo’s period in Madrid, the work aligns with his broader output that included designs for tapestries and paintings intended for textile production. The etching reflects his engagement with religious subjects alongside his decorative commissions, though specific ownership records for this print remain limited.
Context
In the late eighteenth century, Spanish artists often blended Neoclassical ideals with traditional religious iconography. Castillo’s *Supper at Emmaus* illustrates this synthesis, presenting a restrained, orderly scene that adheres to classical compositional principles while addressing a familiar devotional theme.
Artist & collection
Artist
José del Castillo (14 October 1737, Madrid - 5 October 1793, Madrid) was a Spanish painter and engraver in the Neoclassical style. Many of his paintings were done for tapestries.
