The Last Supper

A highlight in the St. Joseph Center and Museum is the impressive 22 foot-long wood sculpture of the life-size Last Supper, one of only three in-the-round design wood sculptures in the world.

The Last Supper was completed in 1995 by award-winning carver Jerry Traufler of Le Mars, Iowa after seven years of work. He started with a pencil outline and then took the unique approach of shaping the characters based on his wife and friends, who posed for photographs dressed as individual apostles.

While Traufler based his outline on the Leonardo Da Vinci painting, his use of friends gives the sculpture a special look. At the Last Supper Jesus announced to His disciples that one among them was about to betray Him. Traufler worked to capture the apostle's various expressions conveying attention, questions and discussion.

There are 12 apostles and Jesus in the Last Supper sculpture -- with James and Andrew sculpted as one unit. Each figure weighs 200 to 300 lbs. The work of art also includes individually carved goblets and unleavened bread on a massive table. The wood is basswood and pine.

Thanks to the artistic skill and dedication of Jerry Traufler, you can view the Last Supper today in the beautiful octagon room of the St. Joseph Center-Museum where it is now on permanent display.