Vasco Fernandes and Francisco Henriques, Last Supper - 1501-06 by Atelier Liesjes

About "Vasco Fernandes and Francisco Henriques, Last Supper - 1501-06"

by Atelier Liesjes

About the artwork

The Last Supper, according to the New Testament, was the meal Jesus of Nazareth used on the occasion of the Jewish Passover with his apostles on the evening (of Maundy Thursday) before the day (Good Friday ) on which he died on the cross (ca. 30 AD), and two days before his resurrection. During this meal, Jesus foretold that one of his disciples would deliver him, and instituted Holy Communion. At the end, he foretold the denial of Peter.

The Last Supper is one of the earliest events described in the life of Jesus, in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, one of the oldest parts of the New Testament.

The altarpiece in question began the Eucharistic cycle with the last meal Jesus Christ enjoyed with his apostles in Jerusalem. Because of its great liturgical and mystical significance, it became known as the Last Supper.

Underlying the introduction of a number of iconographic variants were the interpretive freedoms granted to artists with the tacit consent of the church authorities.

Francisco Henriques (died 1518) was a Flemish Renaissance painter who was active in Portugal in the early 16th century. Born and raised in Amsterdam, he studied in Bruges, where he received his degree in painting from the University of Groningen.

Vasco Fernandes (c. 1475-ca. 1542), better known as Grão Vasco ("The Great Vasco"), was one of the most important Portuguese Renaissance painters.