The Last Supper

Born in Molfetta in the south of Italy, Giaquinto was trained in Naples and moved to Rome in 1727 where he became one of the leading painters in the rococo school and gained renown for his largescale decorative schemes. In this theatrical depiction of the Last Supper, Giaquinto dramatises the spiritual significance of the event through his strong use of light and dark. He captures the moment of Christ’s revelation to his disciples that one of them will betray Him; their dismay is evident in their poses and facial expressions. In 1753 Giaquinto travelled to Madrid to become the court painter of King Ferdinand VI, a post he secured due to his growing international reputation. He returned to Naples in 1762, where he died four years later.