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Learning through Art: The Last Supper by Jacob Copista

This is a very strange little picture and for some, perhaps, not very attractive. It is not well drawn or painted and the blue paint is flaking off in places although it is not old. The figures of the disciples are roughly drawn and the two figures in the front are placed with their feet dangling a little foolishly as they perch on the edge of their respective benches. There are other scenes of the Last Supper in the Compendium rather more finely painted, and there are other icons of this style executed with greater dignity and care. So why has this depiction been chosen? It is intriguing that such a poor, strange painting should be used for a Compendium for the universal Church. It must be a painting with such value for us that despite its ‘poverty’ it is presented to the whole Church for enlightening our faith, and to shed light especially on Part Three, our life in Christ.

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Caroline Farey divides her time between teaching catechetics and philosophy. She was the Director of the BA in Applied Theology for Catechesis at the Maryvale Institute in England, and is Lecturer in Philosophy at St Mary's College, Oscott, the Seminary for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, where she teaches Metaphysics, Epistemology, and St Thomas Aquinas. She is a regular contributor to The Sower, writing the "Learning Through Art" column and sees The Sower as a key means of ensuring a creative ongoing formation for DREs and key catechists. Her degrees included a MA in Theology and a Licence in Philosophy from the Pontifical University, Maynooth, as well as an S.T.L from the Pontifical University Louvain, and a doctorate from Lateran University in Rome. She was also contributing editor to The Pedagogy of God.

This article is from The Sower and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of Maryvale Institute. Contact [email protected]

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