A disciple in grey stands with his back to us.
Bible in art · Matthew
The Last Supper (La Cène légale)
James Tissot · 1886–1894
Brooklyn Museum, New York
Tissot painted the start of the Passover meal with the disciples standing round the table, mantles over their heads and staffs in their hands, as the Law of Moses told the Israelites to eat the first Passover (Exodus 12:11).
The room is dark and brown, hung with garlands, with a hanging lamp above. Most of the figures are seen from behind; at the far side some raise their hands in prayer.
From the text
- “When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples” (Matthew 26:20)
- The Passover eaten “your staff in your hand” (Exodus 12:11)
The artist’s own
- The disciples standing with staffs, following the Passover rule of Exodus
- Mantles drawn over their heads
Details
At the table
Praying
At the far side, figures raise their hands.
The lamp
A star-shaped lamp hangs from the ceiling.
A staff
A disciple holds a tall staff.
James Tissot, French, 1836–1902. Brooklyn Museum, New York (Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.220) · Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper · Brooklyn Museum (Commons file page, «Permission»): "This image was uploaded by the Brooklyn Museum as a content partnership, and is considered to have no known copyright restrictions by the institutions of the Brooklyn Museum." — "No known copyright restrictions".