The Last Supper

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie
Dimensions: 4.6 m x 8.8 m
Created: 1495–1498
Subject: Jesus Christ
Genre: Mural Painting

The Last Supper

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is considered the most famous religious art in history. Leonardo da Vinci was a mysterious man himself and all of his great creations also have some mystery in it. Many art analysts say that this painting has various hidden code or meaning or message.

Leonardo worked for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan for nearly 18 years. Ludovico Sforza commissioned this work in 1495. Leonardo finished it in 1498. This work was a part of the renovation of the Santa Maria Della Grazie church. This painting was a visual expression of the last supper of Jesus Christ described in the Gospel of John, 13:21. Leonardo depicted the situation when Jesus announced that one of the Twelve Disciples would betray him.

The dimension of The Last Supper was 460 × 880 cm (180 × 350 in) covering the dining hall of Santa Maria Della Grazie church. This painting has 13 people in it. The Twelve Disciples and Jesus Christ himself. The Twelve Disciples were (left to right) Bartholomew, James Minor, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Thomas, James Major, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeus, and Simon.

Instead of applying the regular painting method, Leonardo applied the dry plaster method to make the painting a more varied palette. But the plaster wasn’t so durable. So the painting had a lot of restoration attempt during the 1500s. Even during the deterioration of the painting, some monk thought that it has no value anymore and they allowed to make a doorway at the middle of the painting destroying Jesus’s feet and some part of the table.

After a long process of destruction and restoration, this painting is still standing with its significant, wonderful and creative characteristics. And The Last Supper is still one of the most famous masterpieces of Leonardo Da Vinci.