The Last Supper (ca. 1492/94–1498)

 ‘Leonardo formed in his mind a conception so heretical as not to approach any religion whatsoever … perhaps he esteemed being a philosopher much more than being a Christian.’Vasari, 1560 (http://www.historytoday.com/alex-keller/was-leonardo-christian)

The Last Supper (ca. 1492/94–1498)

Leonardo da Vinci was considered a highly intellectual individual, in that he kept company with the highest levels of society of his time. Quite a change from past.

This had to do with the fact that Humanism in the Renaissance was growing and that growth allowed for the recognition of the achievement of great individuals.

Leonardo was no exception to greatness, in his having the ability to use his intellect in his art. I do believe that he had a intellectual mind, (their is no question in my research on that one). and with his shady religious belief system he was able to create a piece of art that is even to this day both questionable but yet has fulfilled the ideas that he was trying to portray.

Allot of his art work was able to capture his beliefs but at the same time question religion, and I think that this piece of art work was a great example of the Humanism age, or being able to finally put a human touch upon a once feared institution called religion.

I do believe that the art that he painted on the wall, and the influential company that he kept and the location of where he painted this art had allot to do with why it still has allot of speculation to this day. Because if you follow Leonardo da Vinci’s life you would find that he was in constant turmoil with the the common belief system of the time. because he him self only valued reason much more than faith because he often struggled with specific religious patterns.

History of “The last Supper” painting

     The Last Supper”, was painted on the end wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, it is one of the most renowned paintings of the High Renaissance it is typical of the Early Renaissance. The use of linear perspective in combination with ornate forms such as the sphinxes on the ends of the bench and the marble paneling tend to detract from the spirituality of the event. In contrast, Leonardo simplified the architecture, eliminating unnecessary and distracting details so that the architecture can instead amplify the sense of spirituality. The window and arching pediment even suggest a halo.  By crowding all of the figures together, Leonardo uses the table as a barrier to separate the spiritual realm from the viewer’s earthly world. Paradoxically, Leonardo’s emphasis on spirituality results in a painting that is more naturalistic than Castagno’s.

But with being a great artist comes great risk, and “The Last Supper” was poorly painted and had already begun to flake during his lifetime because Leonardo sought out a greater detail and luminosity than could be achieved with traditional fresco, he covered the wall with a double layer of dried plaster. Then, borrowing from panel painting, he added an undercoat of lead white to enhance the brightness of the oil and tempera that was applied on top. This experimental technique allowed for chromatic brilliance and extraordinary precision but because the painting is on a thin exterior wall, the effects of humidity were felt more keenly, and the paint failed to properly adhere to the wall.

     (But even in its current state, it is a masterpiece of dramatic narrative and subtle pictorial illusion-ism).

What is the meaning behind “The Last Supper”?

        Some scholars suggest that the painting revolves around a successive verse in which each of the apostles ask Jesus if he himself would be the one to betray him. Other experts feel that the painting is not based on one verse or moment in time in particular but on multiple moments in the general time frame. Still others maintain that “The Last Supper” is a representation of the sacrament of Holy Communion because Christ’s left hand is pointing toward a piece of bread and his right toward a chalice, the symbolic body and blood of Christ. Various analyses of the hand positions of all of the figures have led to a range of symbolic conclusions, particularly the hands of Jesus and Thomas. Jesus had traditionally been portrayed with his right palm showing and his left palm down but in the painting, these positions are reversed. Could this indicate Leonardo’s pagan inclinations or a response to the presence of Judas? Does the upward position of Thomas’ hand indicate that only heaven knows who will betray Jesus or is it a gesture mocking Jesus? The identity of the feminine figure to the left of Jesus is the subject of much controversy in the academic world and the theme of the popular book The Da Vinci Code in which it is suggested that the figure is actually Mary Magdalene. The knife held in Peter’s hand could be a way of protesting his innocence or an indication of his impulsive nature. As you can see, interpretations of “The Last Supper” abound and continue to be generated.

      (Despite the controversy surrounding this famous painting, or more likely because of it, “The Last Supper” continues to fascinate. Today, the painting is preserved by a sophisticated environmental system that monitors dust and humidity levels and filters dust particles. It is one of the area’s most popular attractions and reservations are advised well in advance for the interested tourist).

      I am inserting a video to help people better understand Leonardo De Vinci not only as an artist but also as an inventor.

Here are two good source/ reference links that I used for my source documents.

http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/leonardo-last-supper.html?searched=Leonardo&highlight=ajaxSearch_highlight+ajaxSearch_highlight1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo_da_Vinci)

Here are some interesting facts about the painting. (http://arthistory.about.com/cs/leonardo/a/last_supper.htm