Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010
The Last Supper
You don't have to read the New Testament to know about Jesus' final dinner — has any meal inspired more artistic representations? And has any been more somber? There's some debate over whether or not the Last Supper was indeed a Passover seder, but either way, any notion this feast in Jerusalem was going to be a joyous celebration was put to rest when Jesus announced to his disciples that one of them would betray him. Paintings, of course, aren't the only manifestation of the famous feast: the Eucharist commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus purportedly blessed the bread and the wine at the table and said, "This is my body" and "This is my blood."