Allegory of the Eucharist 1480 - 1500

This woodcut print, “Allegory of the Eucharist,” from an anonymous artist, depicts the central tenet of the Catholic faith, transubstantiation, during the late 15th century. The scene depicts Christ in Heaven, surrounded by a halo and a dove descending toward a chalice on a table, symbolizing the transformation of bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood. Below, a second image of Christ appears, now with a cross, on a structure representing the altar. The print’s simple and linear style was typical of religious imagery of the time, communicating the core beliefs of the era to a wide audience.