The Last Supper in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, June 2018

Last Supper (Primary Title)

Unknown (Artist)

Date: 18th century

Culture: Ethiopian

Category: Paintings

Medium: wall painting, tempera on cotton or linen, mounted on panel

Collection: African Art

Geography: Ethiopia

Dimensions: Overall: 16 3/4 × 24 × 1 1/8 in. (42.55 × 60.96 × 2.86 cm)

Object Number: 2012.304


Depictions of the Last Supper typically present the twelve disciples flanking Christ, here seen at the center wearing a red tunic and green shawl. Seated on the far right, Judas Iscariot, Christ’s betrayer, is the only disciple who, true to the biblical account, puts his hand in the bowl with Christ. The artist has tellingly positioned him as the sole figure looking to the left.

Only eight disciples can be counted. However, small glimpses of flesh tones at the upper right and left edges and missing staples at the sides are cues that a top panel with the faces of the remaining disciples has been lost. The notches at the lower corners of the panel suggest that this painting was once set in some type of framework, perhaps a door or a shutter.


Text from: www.vmfa.museum/piction/6027262-155822552