Who painted The Last Supper?

The Last Supper was painted by William Blake in 1799.

Where can I see The Last Supper?

The Last Supper is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Last Supper?

The Last Supper is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Last Supper?

Museum-quality prints of The Last Supper are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Last Supper

William Blake , 1799

The Last Supper is a tempera painting by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in monogram: WB inv.

About this work

Technique & Style

, through a series of sales and gifts beginning with its acquisition by the William Blake Trust in 1951 and concluding with a 1954 donation by Lessing J.

William Blake created The Last Supper as a tempera painting on canvas in 1799. The work depicts the biblical scene of Christ and the Apostles at the final meal, rendered in Blake's characteristic religious symbolic style. It measures 30.5 cm in height by 48.2 cm in width.

The painting entered the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., through a series of sales and gifts beginning with its acquisition by the William Blake Trust in 1951 and concluding with a 1954 donation by Lessing J. Rosenwald.

The technique combines tempera pigment with canvas support, reflecting Blake's experimental approach to traditional religious subjects. Formal analysis highlights the dramatic composition and symbolic use of light to convey spiritual narrative, consistent with Blake's visionary aesthetic during his late period.

History & Provenance

William Blake executed The Last Supper in 1799 as a tempera on canvas work commissioned by his primary patron, Thomas Butts. It formed part of a series of over 135 biblical illustrations created specifically for Butts. Following the artist's death, the painting descended to Thomas Butts, Jr., who sold it at Messrs.

Foster in London on June 29, 1853. The work subsequently passed through the collections of J.C. Strange and Graham Robertson before being acquired by the William Blake Trust at a Christie's sale in July 1949. In 1951, the Trust sold the piece to Lessing J. Rosenwald of Philadelphia, who later gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1954.

The Last Supper by William Blake is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It was painted in 1799 for Thomas Butts and later passed through several owners including Thomas Butts Jr., J.C. Strange, and Graham Robertson before being acquired by the William Blake Trust. The Trust sold the work in 1951 to Lessing J. Rosenwald, who later gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in 1954. The painting measures 30.5 cm in height and 48.2 cm in width.

Overview

Created in 1799, William Blake’s tempera on canvas work portrays the biblical episode of the final communal meal shared by Jesus and his twelve followers. The composition places the central figure of Christ at the heart of a circular gathering, emphasizing his role as focal point of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The painting captures the moment of the Last Supper, with the apostles turned toward Christ, some raising their hands in gesture. Blake’s inclusion of a luminous halo around Jesus and the subtle illumination behind him underscores the spiritual significance of the event.

Context

The piece reflects Romantic era concerns with individual vision, spiritual experience, and emotional intensity. Blake’s approach to a traditional religious subject diverges from academic conventions, favoring personal imagination over strict realism.