Supper at Emmaus (c. 1480): Art, History and Details

Supper at Emmaus (c. 1480) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection. The museum's creator attribution is Israhel van Meckenem (German, c. 1440–1503).

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

In the New Testament, the Supper at Emmaus takes place after Christ’s Resurrection, when two of his apostles invite him—whom they suppose is a pilgrim and stranger—to dine with them. Israhel van Meckenem staged the scene at an inn, where the three are served food and drink. Christ breaks the bread and blesses it, a gesture that reminds the two disciples of the Last Supper. They thus recognize Christ as their resurrected savior. Van Meckenem contrasted the knowing eyes and gestures of the disciples with the indifferent actions of the servants who carry and pour the wine.

Object facts

• Title: Supper at Emmaus
• Date: c. 1480
• Creator attribution: Israhel van Meckenem (German, c. 1440–1503)
• Culture: Germany
• Type: Print
• Technique: engraving
• Dimensions: Sheet: 21 x 14.7 cm (8 1/4 x 5 13/16 in.)
• Collection: PR - Engraving
• Department: Prints
• Accession number: 1924.512

A detail from the museum

Artists often use views through rooms to create a sense of perspective. Here, this technique allows the viewer to follow Christ from the garden, to the bridge, and into the inn.

Collection credit

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.