Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. On this day Christians celebrate the Last Supper, when Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples. This event was depicted by Leonardo da Vinci in his greatest painting to reach completion, the Last Supper. Leonardo captured the reaction of Christ's disciples to his announcement that one of them would betray him. 

The Royal Collection contains several of Leonardo’s studies for the famous fresco. This red chalk drawing is a preparatory study for the head of Judas Escariot, the disciple who betrayed Christ with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In this study, Judas is caught in a twisting movement, turning to face Jesus, his brow raised in surprise. Leonardo closely observes the turn of Judas’ neck, strongly rendering his muscles and picking out the folds of skin at the base of his skull.