Drinks throughout art history
5th April, 2013 by db_staff
5. Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper 1498
Depicting the consternation among Jesus’ disciples when he announced one would betray him that night, this tableau of the last supper is missing one object which has fascinated men for centuries – the holy grail.
There are a few small cups on the table containing wine but no glorified chalice…some claim it is in fact the figure to the left of Christ. One of the more fantastical of the grail “legends” say it is Mary Magdelene, with whom Jesus supposedly had a child which makes her (and by association women) the “cup” that gives eternal life.
Regardless of veracity, when confronted with someone who claims all of the figures have cups and so how can the grail be one, simply add that Jesus would only have used the one in front of him.
See Jean François de Troy’s 1735 paiting Le Déjeuner d’Huîtres, a serious oyster and champagne party. This could well be the first paiting that depicts champagne as we know it today – sparkling. Look closely at the four aristocrats looking up at the popped champagne cork in the middle of the painting.