Artwork

The Last Supper

The Last Supper, by German 15th Century, paint, 1470
The Last Supper, by German 15th Century, paint, 1470

The Last Supper is a paint print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Last Supper is a print made using the metalcut technique and hand-colored with yellow, red-brown lake, and green hues. It depicts a scene of figures gathered around a table.

Subject & Meaning

The image shows a group of haloed figures with serious expressions sharing a meal. One central figure holds a round object, while others reach out toward it, suggesting a moment of significance.

Technique & Style

The print features flat areas of color with no shading, and a decorative border characteristic of metalcut work. The colors used are predominantly brown, yellow, and green.

Context

The artwork is a product of the period that saw a resurgence in artistic innovation and classical influences, though its exact date and artist remain unspecified.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.