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Supper at Emmaus

Venetian (Artist)
1530-1540 (Renaissance)
oil on panel
(Renaissance Europe )

This Supper at Emmaus is remarkable for the presence of a black Egyptian at Christ's right hand. After his Resurrection, Christ appeared to two disciples at an inn in the town of Emmaus (Luke 24). Depicted here is the moment just before they realize that the wise stranger who "breaks bread" with them is Christ. The innkeeper stands, while the disciples are identified by walking staffs. The biblical story does not note other companions. However, here they are joined by a black soldier, an Egyptian as identified by the characteristic red, wooly headdress. He leans toward Christ, apparently passing him a dish. Seated and a soldier, he cannot be a servant.
Egyptian soldiers were often in Venice with diplomatic missions. The man's inclusion conveys the universality of Christ's promise of salvation. This is thought to be the earliest existing European image of a black African at Christ's right hand.
See the brief discussion of the painting in J. Spicer, ed., Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe. Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2012, no. 25.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore, prior to 1909 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Exhibitions

2012-2013 Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
2/14/1958 Treatment other
8/7/2009 Examination examined for condition; examined for loan
4/20/2011 Examination examined for condition
5/1/2011 Treatment other
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Geographies

Italy, Venice (Place of Origin)

Measurements

Painted surface H: 37 7/8 x W: 61 7/8 in. (96.2 x 157.2 cm)
Panel H: 38 1/8 x W: 62 3/8 x D excluding cradle:1/2 in. (96.8 x 158.5 x 1.2 cm)
Frame H: 68 1/16 x W: 87 5/16 x D: 7 1/16 in. (172.9 x 221.7 x 18 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters, before 1909

Location in Museum

Charles Street: Third Floor: 16th-Century Italian Art

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

37.610

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Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

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