April 15 is celebrated as World Art Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of the multitalented historic artist Leonardo Da Vinci. One of the greatest creations done by the artist was ‘The Last Supper’ which depicts the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the twelve Disciples. Executed as a mural from about 1495 to 1498, the work with its complex display of human emotion has come to be one of the most celebrated works in the history of art. And while little of the original painting remains today despite numerous attempts at restoration, The Last Supper has continued to inspire the imagination of artists through the decades and centuries.
In India, paintings inspired by biblical themes and figures can be traced back to the works of artists patronised by Mughal rulers such as Akbar and Jehangir. Artists such as Basawan, Manohar, Keshav Das, and Abu’l Hasan had adapted biblical figures in the style of Mughal miniatures. The Last Supper has been a recurring theme in the works of postcolonial artists of India as well. They have articulated its perennial mystique with reimagining and reinterpretation within their own context. Here are some of ‘The Last Supper’ works executed by Indian artists.
The Last Supper by M F Hussain
‘The Last Supper' is an important creation part of ‘The Lost Continent’ series that the artist executed in 2005 while he was in London. In this version, the artist illustrates the scene with a well-defined background colour that preempts the crucifixion and with the heightened sense of arid barrenness. The table is predominantly bare barring an empty bowl symbolic of hunger and poverty that persists in the world, more specifically in the conflict-ridden continent of Africa. However, hope permeates the work through a candle, the light is symbolic of the presence of Christ. Beneath the table are two figures, they represent the good in the world and an angel, and the evil, the illustrated figure with horns.
The Last Supper by Krishen Khanna
The biblical theme is an important subject in the works of artist Krishen Khanna. It began when his father gifted him a reproduced illustration of Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper when he was a young boy. On seeing this work, Krishen remained engrossed in his attempts to sketch the image. The inclination to capture the rich and varied use of Christian imagery in his works is indeed seminal. Indicating the identity of the figures in this version of The Last Supper, Art Historian Gayatri Sinha wrote, “Their rough handspun clothing, largely unstitched in the manner of Indian farmers or poor labourers, their heavy features and limbs identify them as working-class men.”
The Last Supper by Suryakant Lokhande
This rendition of ‘The Last Supper,’ is executed by artist Suryakant Lokhande who explores the conflict between the metaphysical and the material work with his style of work. With a philosophical bent of mind, he believes that modern urban life is product-driven and in the quest for luxury people disregard ancient culture, values, and virtues which he strives to bring to the fore through this work. He highlights how in today’s rapidly globalised world, progress and development correlate to materialistic fulfilment, however, the crucial search for one's true self is abandoned.
The Last Supper by Ompal Sansanwal
In this work, contemporary artist Ompal Sansal renders his interpretation of ‘The Last Supper’ in his unique style of labyrinth-like swirling flow of colours. The figurative elements are moulded and placed effortlessly into the backgrounds, exhibiting the intertwining relationship of nature and being. The figure rises from the background, almost without any barriers, nonetheless, the point of definition is maintained, enabling the viewer to construct their perspective of the narrative.
The Last Supper by Jamini Roy
One of the important series in his oeuvre, Jamini Roy created several works depicting the life of Jesus Christ. In his rendition of ‘The Last Supper,’ the artist portrays Jesus sharing his last meal with his apostles before his crucifixion. The figures are solemnly seated holding either wine cups in their hands or making gestures with distinctive melancholic countenances on their faces. The Christ series of paintings done by Jamini Roy bears testimony to Roy's profound understanding of the visual languages of other cultures.
