The Last Supper

Art Historical Context

Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s *The Last Supper* (ca. 1705) captures the pivotal biblical moment when Christ shares his final meal with the, foretelling betrayal and instituting the Eucharist. This drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Robert Lehman Collection, the Venetian artist’s early mastery during the transition from Baroque to Rococo.ini (1675–1741), a prolific decorator who later influenced English art, rendered the scene with dynamic energy, emphasizing emotional gestures and crowded composition typical of late 17th-century religious iconography. Executed in pen and brown ink with wash on paper (10 11/16 x 6 5/8 in.), the work showcases drafting techniques favored by Italian masters. The precise ink lines define figures and architecture, while translucent washes add depth, modeling light and shadow to evoke drama in a compact format. Such preparatory drawings were essential for Pellegrini’s grand frescoes and altarpieces, bridging sketch to monumental canvas. Acquired for the Robert Lehman Collection in 1975, this piece highlights the banker-collector’s passion for Old Master drawings. It invites visitors to appreciate the humility of process behind opulent Baroque art, revealing how Pellegrini’s fluid style foreshadowed the playful elegance of Rococo. A gem for drawing enthusiasts, it underscores the enduring cultural resonance of the Last Supper theme across centuries.