The supper at Emmaus

The Supper at Emmaus, painted in 1641, shows Stom treating one of the most popular Caravaggist subjects — the moment of Christ's revelation to two disciples at an inn after the Resurrection. By this date Stom had settled in Sicily, where his dramatic candlelight manner found enthusiastic patrons among the island's churches and religious confraternities. Stom's mastery of candlelight effects was among the most technically accomplished of all Caravaggist painters, surpassing many of his contemporaries in the subtlety of his graduated shadows and the warmth of his artificial illumination.

A single candle creates the dramatic chiaroscuro that defines Stom's mature style, with the startled recognition of the disciples conveyed through strongly lit faces emerging from deep shadow. The still-life elements on the table demonstrate his skill in rendering textures under artificial light.