Nicolas Chaperon (1612-1656) - La Cène ou Le dernier repas (d'après les fresques vaticanes de Raphaël)

Beautiful 17th-century etching and engraving on copper depicting 'the Last Supper,' where Jesus announces to his apostles: 'One of you will betray me' (Mark, chapter XIV).
It is a numbered board 52, from a large religious series created after Raphael (Raffaello Sanzo da Urbino).

This print depicts Christ surrounded by his twelve apostles, captured in an expressive and theatrical moment typical of the Baroque style. The attitudes, drapery, and staging are inspired by compositions from the Vatican Loges, attributed to Raphael and widely engraved in the 17th century.

Dimensions: Hexagonal copper: 380x210 mm - sheet: 380x225 mm

Nicolas Chaperon (1612–1656) was a French engraver/painter, a student of Simon Vouet, who stayed in Rome and became known mainly for this series of prints.

R.V.I. stands for 'Raphaele/ Raphael Urbinatis Invenit,' according to Raphaël (Raffaello Sanzo da Urbino), inventor/composer of the drawing.
and
N.C.F. stands for 'Nicolas Chaperon Fecit' (Nicolas Chaperon made or executed the plate). The combination R.V.I. ... N.C.F. / 52 corresponds to plates from a series of 52 plates (plus frontispiece and title) engraved by Nicolas Chaperon based on the compositions of Raphael's Vatican Loges, published in Rome in 1649.
This engraving is plate No. 52 from this series known under the title 'Sacrae historiae acta a Raphaele Urbin. in Vaticanis xystis ad picturae miraculum expressa'.

Latin inscription beneath the print.
While reclining and eating with his disciples, Jesus said: one of you will betray me. Mark 14.
While the disciples were at the table eating, Jesus said: one of you will betray me.

Antique watermarked paper, with a chain-link structure typical of European mills from the second half of the 17th century. Watermarks known as 'chain links' or 'oval chain' are common in Italian and French papers between 1650 and 1720.

Condition status
Old yellowed paper, widespread oxidation. Small tears, creases, and missing corners. Traces of humidity / watermarks. Under transmitted light: uniformity of the ink and visibility of the hatch network, no major retouching apparent. The reverse side is blank, with a patina and traces of handling.

Careful shipping, in a rigid box, with insurance via Colissimo.