Fronleichnamsaltar: Das Letzte Abendmahl

Bartholomäus Zeitblom painted this Last Supper for the Corpus Christi Altar in 1502 in Ulm. As a scene directly depicting the institution of the Eucharist, the Last Supper was the most theologically appropriate subject for an altar dedicated to the feast of Corpus Christi. Zeitblom's clear, formal composition serves the liturgical function of the altar. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.

Oil on panel with Zeitblom's characteristic orderly arrangement of the thirteen figures around the table. The bright, even lighting and careful attention to the table setting reflect the Ulm school's descriptive clarity.