Artwork
Last Supper
Last Supper is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Pieter Coecke van Aelst. It is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition includes a small dog at Christ's feet, a traditional emblem of fidelity that underscores the theme of loyalty amidst treachery.
The painting portrays the biblical scene of Christ and the Twelve Apostles at the final meal before the crucifixion, a moment symbolizing communion and foretelling betrayal. The composition includes a small dog at Christ's feet, a traditional emblem of fidelity that underscores the theme of loyalty amidst treachery. Executed in oil on oak panel in 1574 by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, the work belongs to the religious genre and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel support. This religious composition depicts the Last Supper scene, notably including a dog among the figures. The painting measures 25 cm in height and 48.3 cm in width.
It is identified as a copy of an original design by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, dated to 1574.
History & Provenance
The painting is a 1574 copy after Pieter Coecke van Aelst’s Last Supper, produced in oil on oak panel measuring 25 cm in height and 48.3 cm in width.
It entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it remains located. The work is documented as a later copy of Coecke van Aelst’s original composition, dated to 1574.
Legacy
The Last Supper by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, completed in 1574, was later reproduced as a copy now held in the Alte Pinakothek, Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich. This reproduction contributed to the dissemination of Coecke's compositional style, particularly his treatment of the Last Supper scene with accompanying elements such as a dog, influencing subsequent religious artworks in the 16th century. The work's presence in a major collection underscores its historical significance within the context of Northern Renaissance religious painting.
Overview
Pieter Coecke van Aelst’s oil on canvas, completed in 1574, presents a rendition of the biblical Last Supper. The composition gathers the central figures around a modestly furnished table, illuminated by a soft, warm light that emphasizes the intimacy of the gathering. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Context
Created during a period of intense Counter‑Reformation devotion, the work aligns with contemporary efforts to make sacred narratives accessible through relatable, domestic settings. The inclusion of a dog, a common symbol of fidelity, mirrors the era’s didactic use of everyday motifs to reinforce theological messages.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Coecke van Aelst or Pieter Coecke van Aelst the Elder was a Flemish painter, sculptor, architect, author and designer of woodcuts, goldsmith's work, stained glass and tapestries.
