Who painted The Last Supper?

The Last Supper was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1510.

Where can I see The Last Supper?

The Last Supper is held by Louvre Museum.

What movement is The Last Supper?

The Last Supper is associated with Northern Renaissance.

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.

The Last Supper by Albrecht Dürer (1510)

Inscription: Inscribed:in block, lower center, on table leg: 1510; in block, bottom center, on ground: AD [artist's monogram]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: B.5.; verso, lower center, in graphite by a later hand: B.5. col. Theobald - Proof / May 1910 - b52 [?] -; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: -6 [?] [faded]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: oc [?] [faded]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: B. 5 [faded]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: M [?]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: B-23 [upside down]
Markings: Marked:NGA stamp (not Rosenwald)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition's detailed iconography includes symbolic elements such as the lamb on the table, underscoring the connection between the Old and New Testaments.

The Last Supper depicts Jesus Christ gathered with his twelve apostles at the moment of institution of the Eucharist as narrated in the New Testament. Dürer emphasizes the dramatic reaction to Christ's announcement of betrayal through varied gestures and facial expressions, highlighting themes of sacrifice and communal ritual. The composition's detailed iconography includes symbolic elements such as the lamb on the table, underscoring the connection between the Old and New Testaments.

Technique & Style

The Last Supper is a woodcut printed on laid paper, classified as a print within the religious genre. Produced in 1510 as part of Albrecht Dürer's Great Passion series, the work belongs to the German Renaissance movement. The sheet measures 39.3 cm in height by 28.4 cm in width. The composition draws its subject from the New Testament, depicting Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.

History & Provenance

Created in 1510, this woodcut print by Albrecht Dürer belongs to the series known as the Great Passion. The work depicts the Last Supper scene based on the New Testament and was produced during the German Renaissance. Its provenance includes ownership by Henry Studdy Theobald in London and Vincent Mayer in New York before passing to William Goodwin Russell Allen of Boston.

In 1941, the piece was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains part of the Prints in the Rosenwald Collection. Other major institutions holding copies of this print include the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Albertina, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Louvre Museum.

The Last Supper is a woodcut on laid paper created in 1510 and classified as a religious print within the German Renaissance movement. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it was gifted in 1941. The work's provenance traces from Henry Studdy Theobald in London to Vincent Mayer in New York, then to William Goodwin Russell Allen in Boston, before its donation to the National Gallery of Art.

Context

Dürer's woodcut Last Supper from 1510 situates him within the German Renaissance movement, reflecting his role in elevating printmaking to a medium of intellectual and spiritual inquiry. The work's focus on Jesus Christ draws directly from New Testament narratives, aligning with contemporary religious art practices. Scholarship emphasizes its significance within Dürer's broader print series, such as the Great Passion, where his technical innovation and compositional rigor were widely studied.

The piece's provenance, including holdings by major institutions like the National Gallery of Art and the Albertina, underscores its enduring critical and scholarly relevance.

Legacy

The Last Supper woodcut by Albrecht Dürer has shaped religious printmaking through its stark compositional clarity and emotional restraint, establishing a benchmark for narrative precision in German Renaissance art. Its influence persists in scholarly discourse and museum collections, where the work is held in institutions such as the National Gallery of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Albertina, underscoring its enduring status as a cornerstone of the medium.

Overview

The Last Supper is a 1510 religious woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, depicting a pivotal moment in Christian tradition. Executed on laid paper, this print showcases Dürer's mastery of the medium.