Priya Kapoor
The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci between 1494 and 1498, is considered one of the most important mural paintings in the world. It is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting depicts the dramatic scene described in the Gospel of John, where Jesus announces that one of his twelve apostles will betray him. The painting is known for its masterful use of perspective and its portrayal of human emotion. The archway in the painting is formed by the triple-arched ceiling of the refectory, with the lunettes above the main painting adorned with Sforza coats-of-arms.
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What You'll Learn
The archway is part of a mausoleum
The archway depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's mural painting, The Last Supper, is part of a mausoleum. The painting was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, as part of a plan to remodel the church and its convent buildings as a family mausoleum. The painting itself was intended to decorate the wall of the mausoleum, with the lunettes above it painted with Sforza coats-of-arms.
The Last Supper is a mural painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to between 1495 and 1498. It is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting depicts the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as told in the Gospel of John, specifically the moment after Jesus announces that one of his apostles will betray him.
Leonardo's patron, Ludovico Sforza, planned to remodel the church as a family mausoleum, and The Last Supper was intended to be the centerpiece of this mausoleum. The painting was created using experimental pigments directly on the dry plaster wall, and it measures 460 cm x 880 cm, covering an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery.
The painting is known for its mastery of perspective, treatment of motion, and complex display of human emotion. Leonardo likely chose a relatively high vantage point for the painting, with the vanishing point at Jesus' right temple, to draw the viewer's attention to the main subject. This use of perspective creates a sense of continuity between the actual space of the refectory and the painted space.
The Last Supper is considered a masterpiece and one of the most famous artworks in the world. It has exerted a considerable influence on the development of art and is a powerful moment in Western hagiography, capturing the dramatic tension of the scene and the reactions of the apostles to Jesus' announcement.
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The painting is on a dry plaster wall
The painting, "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, is considered one of the most important mural paintings in the world. It is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting is a masterpiece depicting the dramatic scene from the Gospel of John, where Jesus announces that one of his twelve apostles will betray him before sunrise.
Leonardo da Vinci chose to paint "The Last Supper" using experimental pigments directly on a dry plaster wall. This technique was different from the traditional fresco method, where pigments are applied to wet plaster. Da Vinci's approach allowed him to work slowly and make changes, but it has not stood the test of time well. Even before its completion, there were issues with the paint flaking from the wall, and over the years, it has suffered further damage from vandalism, bombing, and restoration attempts.
The choice to paint on a dry plaster wall was intentional and aligned with Leonardo da Vinci's desire to experiment and his interest in light, sound, movement, and human emotions. He favoured oil painting, which offered more flexibility to work at his own pace and make alterations. By using tempera paint on a dry, sealed plaster wall, he could achieve the luminosity and intensity of light and shade that he sought.
The painting's surface is a stone wall sealed with a double layer of gesso, pitch, and mastic. Leonardo added an undercoat of white lead to enhance the brightness of the tempera applied on top. This technique was described by Cennino Cennini in the 14th century but was considered riskier than fresco painting.
Despite the challenges and deterioration, "The Last Supper" remains a significant work of art, renowned for its handling of space, mastery of perspective, portrayal of motion, and complex display of human emotion. The painting has exerted a considerable influence on the development of art, and its preservation is of exceptional universal value.
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The painting is a mural
The subject of the Last Supper was a popular choice for the refectory walls of monasteries and convents in 15th-century Italy. Nuns and monks could have their meals in the presence of Jesus' final repast. Leonardo's version is neatly arranged, with Jesus at the centre of an extensive table and the Apostles to his left and right. Leonardo chose not to give Jesus a halo, as was customary. Some scholars believe that the light from the window behind him serves this role or that the implied lines of the pediment above the window create the illusion of a halo.
Leonardo's Last Supper is unique in several other ways. Firstly, it is painted in tempera, the medium generally used for panel painting, rather than the traditional fresco method. This allowed him to work slowly and make changes, but it has not stood the test of time well. Even before it was finished, there were problems with the paint flaking from the wall. Secondly, the vantage point for the Last Supper is about 15 feet (4.57 meters) above ground. This was to ensure that viewers could see the action taking place above the table, not just the underside. Consequently, the painted space always appears slightly at odds with the refectory space.
The painting is a masterpiece, and its handling of space, mastery of perspective, treatment of motion, and complex display of human emotion have made it one of the Western world's most recognisable paintings. It is a powerful moment in Western hagiography, capturing the moment when Jesus reveals to his twelve apostles that one among them will betray him.
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The painting is housed in a convent
The painting was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, as part of a plan of renovations to the church and its convent buildings. Sforza intended for the church to be remodelled as a family mausoleum. The painting was intended to decorate the wall of the mausoleum. The lunettes above the main painting, formed by the triple arched ceiling of the refectory, are painted with Sforza coats-of-arms.
The painting is located in the historic centre of Milan, not far from the Duomo Square, where the famous Gothic Cathedral of Milan and the statue of Victor Emanuel II are located. The painting is extremely fragile and requires meticulous care in conservation, so visits are limited and must be booked in advance.
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The painting is Leonardo's largest work
The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is considered one of the most famous paintings in the world. It is Leonardo's largest work, measuring 460 cm x 880 cm (15 ft 1 in x 28 ft 10 in). The painting is a mural that covers an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.
Leonardo worked on The Last Supper from about 1495 to 1498, but not continuously. The painting depicts the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as told in the Gospel of John. Specifically, it captures the moment after Jesus announces that one of his apostles will betray him, with each apostle reacting with varying degrees of anger and shock.
Leonardo's choice to abandon the traditional fresco technique and paint the scene "dry" on the wall contributed to the eventual deterioration of the painting. The materials he used, including tempera on gesso, pitch, and mastic, allowed for frequent alterations, but also made the painting more susceptible to damage. Despite numerous restoration attempts, little of the original painting remains today.
The Last Supper is renowned for its handling of space, mastery of perspective, treatment of motion, and complex display of human emotion. Leonardo's use of linear perspective, with the vanishing point at Jesus' right temple, draws viewers' attention to the main subject. The painting's impact and innovative approach have solidified its place as one of the most important works of art in history.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting does not feature an archway. However, the lunettes above the main painting, formed by the triple arched ceiling of the refectory, are painted with Sforza coats-of-arms.
The Last Supper is a mural painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1495–1498.
The painting is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.
The Last Supper depicts the scene of the last supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as told in the Gospel of John. Specifically, it captures the moment after Jesus announces that one of his apostles will betray him.
