Artwork
The Small Passion: The Last Supper
The Small Passion: The Last Supper is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1960.228
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ehrenfest in memory of William J. Collins
About this work
Overview
The Small Passion: The Last Supper is a woodcut print created by Albrecht Dürer around 1510. It is part of a series illustrating the life and suffering of Christ.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the Last Supper, showing thirteen men gathered around a table, with one figure holding bread and another leaning in to listen. The scene is characterized by serious and tense facial expressions.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed chiaroscuro, using deep shadows and sharp lines to create a dramatic effect. The technique gives the figures a three-dimensional appearance, with detailed rendering of faces and hands.
History & Provenance
Dürer was a prominent figure in the German Renaissance, known for his expertise in printmaking. The Small Passion series established his reputation as a skilled artist, initially through woodcuts and later through engravings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
