The Last Supper - Raphael Morghen

A detailed 1800 engraving by Raphael Morghen, capturing the dramatic narrative of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper through precise line work.

This engraving by Raphael Morghen provides a detailed interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's mural, The Last Supper. Morghen, a master of the burin, spent several years preparing this plate, which became one of the most widely circulated reproductions of the Renaissance original during the nineteenth century. The print captures the dramatic moment when Christ announces that one of his disciples will betray him, a scene defined by the varied emotional reactions of the figures seated along the table.

Morghen employs a sophisticated system of cross-hatching and stippling to translate the tonal qualities of Leonardo's painting into a monochromatic medium. The architectural setting, with its linear perspective and coffered ceiling, is rendered with precision, guiding the eye toward the central figure of Christ. The figures are arranged in groups of three, maintaining the balance and symmetry characteristic of the original composition. The engraving technique allows for a subtle modulation of light and shadow, which defines the drapery of the garments and the expressions on the faces of the apostles.

As a reproduction, this work reflects the nineteenth-century desire to disseminate canonical art to a wider audience. Morghen's technical skill ensured that the spatial depth and the psychological tension of the original were preserved. The inclusion of the Latin inscription and the coat of arms at the base of the print aligns with the formal presentation common in high-quality engravings of the period. This piece offers a clear view of the composition, making it a study in both the narrative power of the original painting and the technical capabilities of the engraver's craft. It remains a significant example of how printmaking allowed historical masterpieces to reach beyond the walls of the refectory in Milan.