Last Supper from the Passion of Christ

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created in 1582 by Johann Sadeler I after a design by Maerten de Vos, captures the intimate yet solemn moment of the Last Supper. As part of a larger series on the Passion of Christ, the print portrays Jesus sharing the Passover meal with his Apostles in a detailed architectural setting. Sadeler, a skilled Flemish engraver, translated de Vos’s composition into fine lines and rich contrasts, allowing the emotional weight of the scene—betrayal foretold and fellowship shared—to emerge with clarity. Engravings like this played a vital role in the late sixteenth century, when print...