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Print - The Last Supper
  • The Last Supper
    Dürer, Albrecht, born 1471 - died 1528
  • Enlarge image

The Last Supper

  • Object:

    Print

  • Place of origin:

    Nuremberg (made)

  • Date:

    1510 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Dürer, Albrecht, born 1471 - died 1528 (artist)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Woodcut on paper

  • Credit Line:

    Bequeathed by Miss G. E. Carthew

  • Museum number:

    E.703-1940

  • Gallery location:

    Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case EW, shelf 143, box M

This print is one of a set of 12 woodcuts that tell the story of the Crucifixion and Passion of Christ. The German painter and printmaker Albrecht Dürer transformed the narrative and expressive potential of printmaking. His 'Large Passion' series is a vivid and animated rendering of the gospel story.

In this scene Christ’s disciples react to his pronouncement, ‘One of you will betray me – one who is eating with me’. Judas (in the right foreground) turns his face away and clutches a purse containing the thirty silver coins he has been paid to hand Christ over to his enemies. The knife on his plate points ominously towards Christ.

Physical description

Black and white woodcut. Christ is shown seated at the centre of the table surrounded by the 12 diciples. Judas sits with his back to the viewer and the inn keeper pours out a drink on the left.

Place of Origin

Nuremberg (made)

Date

1510 (made)

Artist/maker

Dürer, Albrecht, born 1471 - died 1528 (artist)

Materials and Techniques

Woodcut on paper

Dimensions

Height: 39.8 cm, Width: 28.6 cm, :, :, :

Descriptive line

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528); 'The Last Supper' from the 'Large Passion' series; 1510; woodcut

Labels and date

Dürer played a leading role in raising woodcut’s status as a black and white artform. He designed ambitious series of full-page images featuring astonishing modelling and chiaroscuro – contrasts of light and dark – which his block cutter achieved through parallel and hatched lines. Dürer, who as an apprentice saw woodcuts being made for the Nuremberg Chronicle (see case), may have supervised the complex cutting himself. [August 2019]

Materials

Paper

Techniques

Woodcut

Subjects depicted

Betrayal; Christianity

Categories

Prints; Religion

Collection

Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection

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