The Apostles (Elgar) the disciples of Jesus and their reactions to the extraordinary events they witness. Despite arranging the commission in December 1901, Elgar paid little attention to "The Apostles "until July 1902, when he had finished composing and rehearsing his "Coronation Ode", Op. 44. Elgar's planning of the libretto included a long immersion in theological writings, as well as Wagner's sketch for "Jesus von Nazareth", and Henry W. Longfellow's poem "The Divine Tragedy". He assembled his libretto from verses of scripture, as had been the pattern for many of the most influential oratorios, including Handel's "Messiah" (1741) and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" (1836). After
Communion of the Apostles (Signorelli) he is delivering them. Among the apostles, Judas Iscariot is portrayed while turning towards the seer: at the same time, he is hiding into his purse the coin of his betrayal. The altarpiece was most likely accompanied by a predella. Three of its panels have been identified with the "Meeting of the Pilgrims on the Road to Emmaus" and "Supper in Emmaus" in the Julius Weitznel collection, and with the "St. Catherine of Alexandria" now at the Museo Horne in Florence. Communion of the Apostles (Signorelli) The Communion of the Apostles is a painting by Italian Renaissance artist Luca Signorelli,