Study for the Supper at Emmaus

Art Historical Context

Giulio Campi's *Study for the Supper atus* (c. 1550–59) is a captivating preparatory drawing that brings to life the biblical scene from Luke's Gospel, where the resurrected Christ reveals himself to two disciples over a humble meal. As a member of the prolific Campi family of artists from Cremona, Italy, Giulio worked in the late Renaissance tradition, blending intricate detail with emotional depth. This sheet, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Prints and Drawings Department, exemplifies his skill in capturing human gesture and narrative drama through a sketch destined for a larger painting. Executed on rare blue laid paper, the work employs black chalk for precise contours, enriched by brush and brown wash for shadowy depth, and heightened with white chalk to evoke glowing highlights—a masterful chiaroscuro technique popular among 16th-century draftsmen. The red chalk squaring grid reveals Campi's methodical process for scaling up the composition, a hallmark of Renaissance workshop practice that bridged design and final execution. At 34.7 × 27 cm, this intimate study offers a window into the artist's creative mind during a transformative era in Italian art, just before Mannerism's full bloom. Visitors will appreciate its tactile energy, a testament to drawing's enduring role in storytelling and devotion.