The Last Supper 1747

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this oil on canvas painting, The Last Supper, now at the Louvre, using a theatrical Baroque style to depict a biblical scene. The composition is organized around a central table, with Christ positioned at the center, bathed in soft light. Tiepolo uses strong diagonals to create a sense of depth, with orthogonals to lead the viewer's eye towards the vanishing point, enhancing the drama of the moment. The texture of the canvas is built up with layers of paint, applied with loose brushstrokes. In semiotic terms, the light acts as a signifier of divinity, drawing attention to Christ as the central figure. The classical architecture surrounding the scene is a cultural code, alluding to the timeless and universal nature of the event. Tiepolo's genius lies in destabilizing the traditional static depictions of the Last Supper through a dynamic interplay of light, color, and form, inviting endless interpretations of faith and power.