The Last Supper: Judas Dipping his Hand in the Dish (La Céne. Judas met la main dans le plat)

For the Passover feast, the apostles (dressed in traveling clothes, like the Jews of the Old Testament book of Exodus, Tissot explains) meet in a room decorated with garlands. During the meal, Jesus reveals that he will be betrayed by one of his disciples; many of them worriedly ask, “Is it I?”

In this image, Jesus hands the sop, or dipped bread, to Judas Iscariot, identifying him as the traitor. Jesus later dismisses him from the company, urging him to be quick about his business.

Here, John the Evangelist, described as the “beloved disciple,” lays his head on Jesus’ shoulder, as is traditional in scenes of the Last Supper. By contrast, Judas, across the table, is already distanced from Jesus, spatially as well as spiritually. And while all the rest of the company wears white, Judas’ robes are dark.