The Last Supper 1799

William Blake made this watercolor painting, entitled "The Last Supper," in England during the late 18th or early 19th century. Blake offers a vision of religious narrative that reflects the social upheavals and spiritual questioning of his time. Blake's image diverges from traditional depictions. The figures are arranged in a frieze-like composition, with Christ radiating light, challenging the established artistic conventions and religious interpretations prevalent in British society. Unlike other paintings depicting the same event, Blake included a female figure to Jesus' right, challenging the patriarchal conventions of the Church. To understand this work more fully, we can explore the rich resources of social and institutional history, like theological texts, records from art academies, and social commentary from the period. Such historical investigation reveals how artistic meaning is deeply embedded in its time.