The Last Supper

Gustave Doré · 1866 (designs for La Sainte Bible, Tours); this printing 1873–1874
National Library of Poland, Warsaw

A. Bertrand signed this engraving at the lower right. Doré sets the meal in a stately hall with Ionic columns, a hanging lamp and a heavy curtain drawn aside, an arrangement close to a theater stage.

Jesus sits at the center of a long table under a soft halo, looking upward. The disciples sit on chairs and benches around it; some lean toward one another, one stands behind. Cups, plates and a jug stand on the white cloth, and tall jars wait on the floor at the right.

From the text

“When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples” (Matthew 26:20)

“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me” (Matthew 26:21)

They began to ask one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22)

The artist’s own

The disciples seated on chairs at a high table, as in European paintings; the text says they reclined

Classical columns, a hanging lamp and a stage-like curtain

Judas not picked out from the others

Details

Jesus

He sits at the center, looking up, a soft halo behind him.

The lamp

An oil lamp hangs on chains from the ceiling.

The curtain

A heavy drapery is drawn aside like a stage curtain.

Jars

Tall jars stand on the floor by the table.

Gustave Doré, French, 1832–1883. National Library of Poland (Biblioteka Narodowa), Warsaw — «Pismo Święte Starego i Nowego Testamentu», vol. 2, Warsaw: M. Glücksberg, 1874 (acc. 75.267 A) · Wood engraving after Gustave Doré’s design · National Library of Poland (Polona): the record of the volume gives the licence «Domena Publiczna» (Public Domain), «copyrightProtected»: false; the scan was uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by the library itself («Polona Upload», GLAM-Wiki partnership: “This file was uploaded to Wikimedia Commons as part of a GLAM-Wiki partnership between the National Library of Poland and Wikimedia Polska”), linking its Polona record.

The verses

Matt 26:20–25When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”