The Supper at Emmaus

The Supper at Emmaus is an important Christian theme that represents both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ

Artist Rembrandt would use this topic as inspiration for several different works during his career, with this particular painting being completed in 1648, when the artist was in his early forties. The Musée du Louvre, Paris now owns this painting, alongside several other original Rembrandt van Rijn works.

The artist chose to use more lighting effects in this multi figured composition, when normally he would darken the vast majority of the scene and just leave elements of the facial areas on display. This change in tact enables him to display his architectural skills, with an arch, doorway and stone walls clearly visible in the background.

There is clearly a classical style to this painting, inspired by Rembrandt's influences from the Italian Renaissance. His other versions on this theme would go in other directions, however. During this time, which many refer to as Rembrandt's mature period, the artist would depict Christ frequently. They would capture the figure at different stages of his life, including early episodes from his youth plus his later resurrection.

The famous Dutch master uses a common technique in order to display the divinity of Christ, outlining the figure with a warm glow. This proved the best method of depicting an idea that ultimately could not be seen in real life, a joining the seen and unseen. The picture itself is calmer than some of his early religious paintings.

Supper at Emmaus is just one of a number of stories of Christ which have inspired artists since the Early Renaissance. Clearly, the most famous of all would have to be The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Caravaggio famously also produced his own version of Supper at Emmaus.