Last Supper 1545 - 1585

This rendition of the Last Supper was drawn by an anonymous artist with pen and brown ink, and brown wash, over black chalk. Religious art like this has always had a public role, especially in Italy. From the medieval period onwards, devotional images were commissioned to promote specific political and social goals. This drawing is likely a study for a larger piece. We can tell that the artist was influenced by the Renaissance due to their attention to anatomical detail and perspective. The artist is thinking about the social interactions between the figures at the table. The image creates meaning through its visual codes. We know this is the Last Supper because of the presence of Jesus and his disciples. The use of brown wash gives the drawing a sense of depth and realism. Art historians might research the patronage of religious art in Italy to understand the social conditions that shaped its production. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.