The Last Supper - Hieronymus Wierix

A detailed copperplate engraving of the Last Supper by the Flemish master Hieronymus Wierix, featuring precise line work and traditional religious iconography.

This engraving by Hieronymus Wierix depicts the biblical scene of the Last Supper. Wierix, a member of a prolific family of engravers based in Antwerp, produced a vast body of work characterised by technical precision and small-scale detail. The composition follows traditional iconographic conventions, showing Christ at the centre of the table surrounded by his disciples. The figures are arranged in a tight, enclosed space, with the artist using cross-hatching to define the folds of their garments and the shadows within the room.

The scene includes a Latin inscription at the base, taken from the Gospel of Matthew, which provides the narrative context for the image. The inclusion of the phrase 'Cum Gratia et Privilegio' indicates that the print was produced under a royal or ecclesiastical privilege, a common practice for printmakers in the Low Countries during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries to protect their work from unauthorised copying. The lighting is focused on the figure of Christ, who is distinguished by a subtle halo, while the rest of the room remains in relative shadow. This use of light and shade, or chiaroscuro, is typical of the period's approach to printmaking, where the artist had to rely entirely on line weight and density to convey depth and atmosphere.

As a fine art print, this work offers a view into the devotional culture of the Counter-Reformation. The Wierix family were instrumental in the dissemination of religious imagery across Europe, and their prints were often collected for private contemplation. The fine lines and controlled technique demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship expected of the Antwerp school of engravers. This print remains a representative example of the technical mastery achieved by Wierix in the medium of copperplate engraving.