A young local artist in Chabanais, France, has created a unique interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's famous "The Last Supper," replacing Jesus, Judas, and the apostles with regular customers of the local sports café. Jean-Michel Poinet, 25, painted the mural on a wall of his parents' bar, transforming the biblical masterpiece into a community celebration featuring familiar faces like Maurice, Angela, Philippe, Christian, and Yves.
The ambitious artwork spans an impressive 4.5 meters long by 2.5 meters high, covering a prominent wall inside the family-owned café. Poinet, who is the son of the bar owners, returned home this summer to help his parents run the establishment while continuing to pursue his artistic passion. The project represents what he calls "The Last Supper with Chabanais flavor," substituting the iconic religious figures with beloved local patrons who frequent the community bistro.
Despite his demanding schedule working at the family bar, Poinet has dedicated his limited free time to completing the mural. "In my spare time, and we don't have much when you work in a bar," he explained, "I continued working on the painting that I started last year on the large wall" that his parents made available to him in their establishment. The artist has managed to balance his responsibilities helping with the café operations while refusing to completely trade his paintbrush for a serving tray.
The mural represents more than just artistic expression—it serves as a tribute to the regular customers who have become part of the café's extended family over the years. By reimagining da Vinci's masterpiece with local personalities, Poinet has created a work that celebrates community bonds and the important role that neighborhood gathering places play in small-town life. The painting transforms the sports café into both a social hub and an art gallery, giving patrons the unique experience of seeing themselves immortalized in classical artistic style.
