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Frank Brangwyn:
The Last Supper, St Joseph's, Stokesley, 1946
Framed (ref: 10598)

Gouache with pencil

Squared for transfer, and inscribed

Tags: Frank Brangwyn gouache pencil design murals religion

Provenance: Peter Cornish Collection

This is a study for a mural that was painted for the small Catholic church of St Joseph's, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, of which Father John McDonnell was the priest. Brangwyn told Father Jones of the Marist College, Middlesbrough, that he was 'trying to make a small picture of the subject (the Last Supper) for a poor priest who has a very poor little church at Stokesley'.

In the composition, Christ sits at the centre of the table staring intently forward, his left hand clasping a drinking vessel. The disciples cluster round, all eyes fixed on the Lord. The work features many portraits of Brangwyn, one of his friend and neighbour William Stewart, and the dog Jock. Background of wall with arches through which countryside can be seen. This was described by Stewart as Brangwyn's last mural, though sadly the church and its contents were later destroyed by fire.