The Last Supper

Sebald Beham

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a group of figures seated at a table in a vaulted interior. The scene depicts an architectural setting with ornate vaulted ceilings supported by columns. There is a round table at the center, at which several figures are gathered, engaged in conversation and possibly dining. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates texture and shading, giving depth to the architectural elements and the figures. The figures are shown with a variety of gestures, some holding cups or other objects. At the back, through an arched window, a distant landscape is visible. The drawing possesses a style reminiscent of Renaissance-era woodcuts, characterized by detailed linework and careful attention to the contrast between light and shadow.