Beyonce's Last Supper Analysis

Beyoncé’s performance at the Grammy’s is a talked about performance that contain many influences from art. A one that initially standout after researching the influence and then re-watching the performance is the heavy influence from the love goddess Oshun. Oshun is associated with sweetness, kindness, generosity, and bountiful love. The MTV article written by Liz Raiss asked art historians, what they taught about Beyoncé’s usage of the reference to art history. The art historian named Cheryl Finley stated that “Oshun bore twins to Shango, the thunder god, with whom she ruled from his expansive brass palace. Hence, the brassy/gold hue of Beyoncé’s elaborate crown and regal robe reference the wealth of brass objects — bracelets, fans, earrings, staffs, and swords — accumulated by Oshun as the mother of Yoruba twins” (Raiss). It makes sense for Beyonce to reference the figure Oshun, since Beyonce is pregnant with twins. Oshun was responsible for protecting her children, unborn children, and future generations. This inspires Beyonce to include her daughter and mother, in the performance and the fact that she …show more content…
Beyoncé performance contains a long table that is characteristic of the Last Supper. However, the reference is a bit more detailed than just the table. Beyonce and other background performers are wearing a radiant halo during the performance, and according to the art historian Dr. Jo Livingstone, this is consistent to Tintoretto’s The Last Supper which consist of radiant halos. It is a very obvious reference to the last supper, but the article on MTV does not go onto detail on why it was included. The Last Supper does include Jesus giving his body to the Apostles, and Beyoncé may be using the reference to show that she is giving her body for her child and unborn twins, but it may also have a different or more meaning than I am aware