Artwork
The Institution of The Eucharist
The Institution of The Eucharist is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the sacred exchange of elements, underscoring the theological significance of transubstantiation and the founding of the Mass.
The painting depicts the moment of the Institution of the Eucharist, a defining event in Christian liturgy when Jesus shares bread and wine with the apostles, instituting the sacrament of the Eucharist. The scene is set around a table draped in white, with Jesus at its center distributing the host to the disciples, who are arranged in a semicircle. The composition emphasizes the sacred exchange of elements, underscoring the theological significance of transubstantiation and the founding of the Mass.
The work is structured to frame the central act of consecration, with the apostles’ gestures and gazes directing attention to Jesus. The use of light and spatial arrangement draws the viewer’s eye toward the act of blessing and offering, reinforcing the narrative’s spiritual gravity and doctrinal importance within Catholic iconography.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1753, this religious painting by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 985.0 cm in height and 1495.0 cm in width, presenting a substantial surface area for its depiction of the Last Supper. As a piece classified within the genre of religious art, the composition focuses on Jesus Christ as the central figure.
The application of oil medium on fabric allows for the specific textural and chromatic qualities characteristic of Tiepolo's mid-eighteenth-century output, though specific details regarding the current condition or handling history of the object are not provided in the available records.
History & Provenance
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo created the oil-on-canvas painting The Institution of The Eucharist in 1753. The work is currently held by the Statens Museum for Kunst, though the provided sources do not detail the specific commission, original ownership chain, or the full provenance history prior to its arrival at the museum. The painting measures 985 cm in height and 1495 cm in width. It depicts the Last Supper and falls within the genre of religious art.
Overview
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo completed The Institution of the Eucharist in 1753. Executed in oil on canvas, the work belongs to the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. It presents a religious gathering rendered in the light, decorative manner typical of the late Rococo period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
