Drinks throughout art history

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.