Description
The Supper at Emmaus , painted in 1606 , depicts the moment when two disciples recognize the resurrected Christ during a meal at Emmaus. Caravaggio returns to a subject he had already painted in 1601 but radically transforms its treatment. The figures are now gathered closely around a table within a dark and silent space. Gestures are restrained and the reduced illumination concentrates attention on Christ and the disciples.
In contrast with the dynamism and perspective effects of the earlier version, this second Supper at Emmaus is more austere and introspective. Darkness dominates the composition and the figures appear to emerge from it through selective illumination. The Gospel account relates how two disciples travel towards Emmaus without recognising the risen Jesus. During their meal, the breaking of bread allows them to discover the identity of their companion.
