Artwork
Supper at Emmaus
Supper at Emmaus is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Pontormo. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Supper at Emmaus is a 1525 oil painting on canvas by Pontormo, housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Notably, it is one of the artist's smallest signed and dated works.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a biblical scene from Luke 24:13-35, where Jesus reveals himself to two disciples at a supper in Emmaus after his resurrection. The subject explores themes of recognition and divine presence.
Technique & Style
Pontormo employed strong chiaroscuro, characterized by a high light source, to create deep contrasts and a sense of drama. The 'freeze-frame' composition and realistic approach were innovative for its time.
History & Provenance
Signed and dated by Pontormo on a discarded foreground scroll, the painting is now part of the Uffizi Gallery's collection in Florence, Italy.
Context
This work influenced later artists, notably Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Francisco de Zurbarán, who adopted similar lighting and compositional techniques in their own pieces.
Legacy
Supper at Emmaus is recognized for its pioneering use of chiaroscuro and realistic depiction, leaving a lasting impact on the development of Baroque painting techniques.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Carucci or Carrucci (IPA: ; May 24, 1494 – January 2, 1557), usually known as Jacopo (da) Pontormo or simply Pontormo (IPA: ), was an Italian Mannerist painter and portraitist from the Florentine School.
