“The Last Supper,” crafted by El Greco around 1568 during his time in Venice, Italy, is a poignant religious painting that exhibits the distinctive features associated with the Mannerism movement of the Late Renaissance. This oil on panel work, measuring 43 by 52 cm, captures a seminal moment in Christian narrative. It is currently housed within the collection of the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna in Bologna, Italy.
The artwork presents a scene of Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples partaking in the Last Supper, an event chronicled in the New Testament. The composition is notable for its dynamic arrangement of figures and the dramatic use of chiaroscuro — the strong contrasts of light and dark — which enhances the emotional intensity of the scene. The artwork showcases elongated forms and exaggerated poses, characteristics typical of Mannerist aesthetics, which sought to express emotion and artifice over the balanced harmony found in High Renaissance art.
Around the table, the disciples display various gestures and expressions, conveying a sense of movement and interaction that invites contemplation on the narrative’s significance. Central to the scene is the figure of Christ, who serves as a point of tranquility amid the surrounding activity. The setting includes architectural elements and perspective lines that draw the viewer’s eye towards the central figures, emphasizing the moment’s solemnity and the painting’s spiritual import.
