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Last Supper, The
Image 180

Tinted drawing from one of twelve surviving leaves of a psalter from the Benedictine abbey of Chertsey, Surrey, c.1220-30, probably of London origin. On this leaf the Last Supper (above) is paired with the Betrayal  (below). At the Last Supper Christ turns towards the tonsured Peter. The beloved disciple, John, sleeps on Christ's breast. Isolated on one side of the table, Judas helps himself to one of two large fish in a dish. Below, Judas betrays Christ with a kiss. To the right are the guards with their lantern, weapons, and the ugly faces of villains. One reaches forward to seize Christ. To the left, St Peter holds by the hair the chief priest's man, Malchus, whose ear he has just cut off with his sword - the ear is shown falling between Malchus's hands.
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