The Grid #5
The median is the horizontal line of the grid that runs through its centre.
In The Last Supper, the median of Brachert's grid aligns with the heads of all the protagonists but one. Judas, the one who will betray Jesus, is the only person whose face falls below the line. This subtle detail visually signals his moral and emotional descent. Counterbalancing his downward motion, Philip rises above the median, his hands pressed on his heart, contributing to the wave-like motion that animates the composition.
To the far left, James the Minor, dressed in pink and part of the first group of apostles, reaches out to touch Peter’s shoulder, trying to draw his attention. His palm faces downward, almost flat, with the back of his hand positioned precisely at the level of the median. This small but significant gesture creates a visual connection, subtly linking the figures together.