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This is a copy of Rembrandt's first Supper atEmmaus. He painted this when he was only 21 years old. Later in his life he painted another more 'normal' Supper at Emmaus. When I first was introduced to this painting I did not appreciate it. I wondered why he painted it so dark? Why is Christ pulling away from his deciples when they need his comfort? I read everything I could find on this painting trying to understand why Rembrandt would paint it this way. Finally I turned to the scriptures. In Luke it tells how the two deciples meet and walk with this stranger and talk of the things that have happened in Jerusalem. When they approach their home they offer for the stranger to sup with them. It has been but three days since the last supper where Christ had blessed and broke bread for them. When they sit at supper and he again blesses and brakes bread, they begin to recognize who he really is. Luke 24: 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
At 21 years old Rembrandt figured out how to paint Christ diassapperaing. And taking all of the light with Him because He is the only source of light. This painting has great meaning. I learned a lot about Rembrandt, about the life of Christ, and about painting from copying this painting.
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