The Last Supper

The Last Supper by William Blake, executed in 1799, is a profound example of the artist's highly personal and spiritual engagement with biblical subjects. This painting, rendered in tempera on canvas, reflects the highly subjective and visionary style characteristic of Blake’s output during the late 18th century, placing it firmly within the British cultural contributions of the 1776 to 1800 period.

Blake revisits the foundational New Testament scene: Christ's final meal shared with his twelve Apostles. Unlike traditional Renaissance depictions, such as Leonardo da Vinci's monumental fresco, Blake’s work emphasizes intense psychological drama and spiritual revelation rather than strict naturalism or classical composition. The figures are stylized, conveying emotional states through expression and gesture, fitting the artist's anti-materialistic aesthetic agenda. The work highlights the moment of betrayal and the institution of the Eucharist.

The canvas employs tempera, a medium often deliberately chosen by Blake over contemporary oil painting because of its ability to produce a flat, matte finish reminiscent of early Italian fresco painting. This choice lends the piece an austere, timeless quality, reinforcing the spiritual gravity of the event depicted. The restrained palette and linear precision further the mystical intensity of the composition.

As a significant example of British Romantic-era visionary art, this work remains crucial for understanding Blake’s interpretation of religious narrative. The painting is classified as a core component of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of the lasting influence of this style, high-quality prints derived from this publicly accessible masterwork are widely used today for scholarly research and appreciation.