The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci: Religious Painting

Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is a biblical fresco designed by the great painter who has never been equaled, Leonardo da Vinci. It is certainly the most remarkable masterpiece of the Renaissance. Even today, it is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It represents the last meal of the Messiah with his disciples

In this article, we will talk about the genius Leonardo da Vinci as well as this famous work of art. It is important to know that many representations of the Last Supper were designed in homage to this painting.

You will discover:

• Analysis of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper

• There Last Supper: Stories of the Arts

• A biography of Leonardo da Vinci

• The biggest ones inventions of Leonardo da Vinci

• The Last Supper paintings as decoration

After reading this article, you will have a very clear vision of all the things you need to know about the painting of the Last Supper.

If you want to know more about the history of the apostles, we have written an article introducing the 12 apostles right here .

Without further ado, let's start the article right now.

The Last Supper or the fabulous work of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was not only an accomplished artist but also a brilliant scientist and inventor. His most famous work, "The Last Supper," depicts Jesus at the center of a long table, surrounded by his twelve apostles in a large rectangular room. The precise placement of Jesus' head in the center of the painting, from a geometric point of view, was a deliberate decision by the artist to enrich the meaning of the work.

"The Last Supper" has been admired by millions of people. While specialists can analyze it in a unique way, the general public often sees it as a work of great beauty. The artistic quality of this representation of Jesus and his disciples is recognizable even without specific expertise in art.

This masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci had a significant impact on Christianity, becoming a major artistic reference in this field. Frequently reproduced by churches and in Christian publications, the painting has become a powerful symbol for believers.

"The Last Supper" remains one of the most significant paintings of the last millennia. Christians feel honored and proud to be associated with such an exceptional work, which will likely continue to inspire and be reinterpreted in the future.

1) The Last Supper: The Last Meal

A. Leonardo da Vinci Painting Technique 🎨

Leonardo da Vinci, known for his procrastination and long to-do list, preferred to work on dry plaster so he could take his time. This technique allowed him to add a great deal of detail and employ his signature painting methods , including chiaroscuro for light contrasts, sfumato for soft shadows, and the use of point-line perspective.

For his religious work "The Last Supper," he opted for a mixture of oil and tempera applied to a dry wall . Determined to transcend the traditional upper room fresco, Leonardo experimented with untested oil paint that did not adhere well to plaster. As a result, he abandoned the usual technique of fresco on wet plaster in favor of the dry method. Unfortunately, the painting's image began to deteriorate only a few years after its completion. The artist sought to reproduce the effect of an oil painting, despite the fact that the latter began to deteriorate over time.

The centuries have not spared the masterpiece. It is estimated that only 20% of the original painting remains intact, making it difficult to fully grasp its splendor and the impact it had when it was still new. However, if we had the opportunity to go back in time to visit Leonardo's studio, we might have had the chance to see this exceptional masterpiece.

B. The Last Supper Characters and Settings

Leonardo da Vinci created this painting with Jesus in the center and the 12 apostles who followed the son of God on their Christian mission. It was the day of their last meal with their master. It therefore includes:

• Andre
• Jack (the miner)
• Bartholomew
• Jeans
• Philip
• Rock
• Judas (the traitor)
• Thomas
• Jack (the middle finger)
• Matthew
• Jude
• Simon (the Zealot)

The scene depicts several figures in a rectangular room decorated with coffered ceilings and tapestries on either side, with a table where Jesus and the apostles are seated. The utensils and tablecloths are painted to match those in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The room ends with three windows on the back wall. Through these windows, Leonardo has depicted a magnificent outdoor landscape . The background fades into a misty, grayish horizon.

C. The Last Supper Perspective

In painting "The Last Supper," Leonardo da Vinci used a perspective effect that makes the room where the apostles share their last meal with Jesus appear to be an extension of the refectory. This technique, in which the colors of the horizon fade and become duller, is known as aerial perspective . It was commonly used by Renaissance artists to create an illusion of depth in landscape scenes.

As for the composition, Jesus is placed in the center, surrounded by his disciples, forming a triangle that is not overlapped by any apostle. Leonardo's use of linear perspective is evident, with a vanishing point located at Jesus' head. Thus, Leonardo da Vinci applied innovative artistic techniques that had begun to develop from the beginning of the Quattrocento, which allowed him to create this sublime masterpiece.

D. Meaning of the Last Supper for Christians

In addition to being at the center of the composition, the Son of God is also at the heart of the psychological dynamics of the scene. What we see is taken from the Gospel accounts that precede the Passion and death of Christ . It was the moment when Jesus and the apostles were gathered in the dining room. More precisely, we are witnessing a moment just after the Son of God made a major revelation to the apostles, announcing that one of them would betray him: “One of you will betray me” (Matthew 26:21). He was referring to Judas, although no one knew it at the time. On the canvas we can observe the apostles, visibly disturbed, wondering who the traitor is. Although “The Last Supper” has been depicted several times in art, this particular moment of the biblical story , with the expressions of the characters, remains unique.

E. The Last Supper an emotional painting

The artist Leonardo da Vinci was able to capture the emotional and dramatic intensity of one of the most crucial moments in the Gospels. Giorgio Vasari, a writer and historian of the artists' lives, noted that: "Leonardo da Vinci conceived and succeeded in expressing the desire that invaded the minds of the apostles to discover who had betrayed their Master. Thus, in the face of each one, one can discern love , fear , indignation or pain in the face of the incomprehension of Christ's words. This is no less impressive than the hatred and betrayal evident in Judas!"

F. The beginning of the Renaissance

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" is a work that draws on early Renaissance painting traditions, particularly in terms of composition and perspective. However, Leonardo innovates through his study of emotional reactions and psychological states, captured with a naturalism previously unseen in Italian painting. Thanks to Leonardo da Vinci, we can observe the beginning of the Renaissance's apogee , a period marked by exceptional virtuosity. It was a time when new ways of representing figures or scenes were taking off, and when the evolution of European art was beginning to take the form we recognize today.

2) Analysis of the Last Supper

A. Staging

"The Last Supper" depicts a moment of great upheaval: just after Jesus reveals that one of the apostles will betray him . This announcement has profoundly disrupted the peaceful and convivial atmosphere of the meal. This is evident in the consternation of the apostles, visible through their agitated gestures. Goethe, a novelist, pointed out that only an Italian could capture this scene so well, attributing this to the lively minds of the Italians. He observes that Italians use every part of their body to express their emotions , passion, and thoughts.

Peter, positioned to the left, leans forward and grabs John's right shoulder, as if to urge him to reveal the traitor's identity. To the right, James steps back, dismayed, his arms outstretched. Philip, meanwhile, beats his chest to attest to his innocence. Thomas raises a hand, as if ready to intervene vigorously. Judas, the traitor of the group, moves away from the others, his face hidden in shadow, while his right hand firmly holds a bag of money, symbolizing his betrayal.

B. illustration of the Last Supper

Leonardo arranged the disciples in four groups of three apostles each around the table, with the Messiah in the center. These numerical arrangements may have had symbolic meaning for him, possibly in reference to the four Gospels of the Bible and the number three, which symbolizes the Trinity. Let us now examine the composition of these four groups with Jesus in the center:

• In the first group there are Simon (1), Jude Thaddeus (2) and Matthew (3), consults to try to make sense of the surprising news of Jesus.

• The following group includes Philip (4), Jack the Mighty (5), and Thomas (6) who look at their master with disbelief.

• In the second group, Jeans (7) turns his gaze away from despair, Rock (9) appears to be angry, and Judas Iscariot (8) the traitor in question, seems to be shocked that Jesus discovered his plan.

• And finally we find Andre (10), Jack the Miner (11) and Bartholomew (12) who all three seem surprised by what Christ has just told them.

C. Surprising Fact of the Religious Table

THE LAST SUPPER JUDAS (SPILLS THE SALT)

As you can see in the image below, Judas spills a salt shaker on the painting. This gesture is associated with a popular belief that spilling salt in this way would bring bad luck. In addition, we can observe Iscariot holding in his right hand the money that was given to him. The presence of the spilled salt on the table symbolizes his betrayal. This detail, among many others, illustrates all the richness of this work made by the great Leonardo da Vinci.

THE LAST SUPPER MARY MAGDALENE

In "The Last Supper," the figure to the right of Jesus does not have a clearly identifiable gender. This figure is neither bald, nor bearded, nor typically masculine; instead, he has feminine features. This has led some to speculate that Leonardo da Vinci did not depict John, but Mary Magdalene . Although this hypothesis seems plausible and that Leonardo could have depicted Mary Magdalene in the painting, several arguments suggest otherwise:

• Mary Magdalene was not present at the Last Supper . None of the four Gospels mentions her among the guests at the table.

• It would have been considered a clear heresy for Leonardo da Vinci to paint Mary Magdalene in place of an apostle. In late 15th-century Catholic Rome, which was not an age of tolerance for divergent religious beliefs, this would have been unwise and risky, potentially offending both his patron and the Pope .

• Leonardo had a predilection for depicting men with effeminate features . He focused more on male than female anatomy in his work. His notebooks include depictions of sensual young men, whose faces resemble the one attributed to Jean in his works.

D. The Last Supper, place of Creation

Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan, commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint "The Last Supper" to decorate the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie , as a tribute to the Sforza family. While he worked on the decoration of the refectory, Leonardo moved to the Casa degli Atellani, just opposite, where he spent three years painting the painting. The aim was to make the table depicted in the work harmonize with the tables in the church's refectory, creating the illusion that Christ and the apostles were sharing their meal with the Dominican monks residing in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. 🍽️

E. Leonard the Genius

Authors Jean Pierre Isbouts and Christopher Heath Brown, working on their book "The Young Leonardo: The Evolution of a Revolutionary Artist" (1472-1499), focused on the period from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, starting with Leonardo's early years in Florence. They expressed that the creation of a work such as " The Last Supper " seemed an unthinkable feat at the time. They compared its creation to the ancient time when Jesus was transmitting the word of God, a period during which he was often considered a madman by the population. 😲

3) The Last Supper History of the Arts

A. Ludovico Sforza and Leonardo da Vinci

In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci received a commission from Ludovico Sforza , Duke of Milan and a long-time patron of the artist, to paint a 15-foot by 29-foot fresco for the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, as part of a renovation.

More specifically, Sforza wanted Leonardo to depict Jesus' last supper as described in the New Testament Gospel of John. Leonardo therefore depicted Jesus and his 12 apostles seated at the table during the celebration of Passover, a traditional Jewish holiday. Unlike other similar depictions, Leonardo chose to illustrate the moment when Jesus announces to his disciples that one of them would betray him, emphasizing the expressive and individual reactions of the characters .

B. A World-Famous Work of Art

In the field of art history, "The Last Supper" is considered one of the most significant masterpieces of all time . In addition to its balanced composition and advanced perspective, this work is famous for the naturalism of its figures. According to Leonardo himself, viewers can easily detect, through the expressions of Christ and the apostles, the artist's intention .

C. The Restoration of the Last Supper: a Serious Error!

"The Last Supper" was not painted with a traditional mixture of oil and distemper plaster. After the completion of his 15 x 29 foot masterpiece, the paint began to peel due to the humidity in the refectory. The painting quickly suffered degradation . Touch-ups were made shortly after its completion. It is only after twenty years of restoration work, completed in 1999, that we can still admire "The Last Supper" in its current state .

The interventions of restorers over time have only worsened the condition of "The Last Supper", especially that of the artist Michelangelo Bellotti . In 1726, he claimed to have a miraculous product that would restore the splendor of the work, but the result was far from living up to expectations. Four years later, Pietro Mazza , a less recognized and less talented painter than Leonardo, undertook a restoration that unfortunately further deteriorated da Vinci's masterpiece .

D. The Last Supper: Interpretation of the Atmosphere 🌌

It is well known that Leonardo da Vinci was not only a painter. He was also a scientist, inventor, mathematician and was interested in botany and philosophy, as well as astrology and the occult. Thanks to the Codex Atlanticus , we know that these last two areas held a significant place in his research.

Astrology was indeed very widespread in Renaissance culture, and mathematics was often tinged with esotericism and magic. Thus, it is not surprising that "The Last Supper" can also be interpreted as a representation of the solar system and the zodiac , with each apostle embodying the characteristic traits of a zodiac sign .

For example, Thomas is associated with the planet Mercury 🌑, while Peter is linked to Jupiter and Sagittarius . Peter, the leader of the apostles and founder of the Catholic Church, is described in the Gospels as a man of great nobility, but unstable and uncertain, like the fire sign he represents. He seems to rise with the same energy as the arrow from a Sagittarius bow. 🏹 Judas, on the other hand, is associated with Scorpio, in the position of Mars , a sign that symbolizes infidelity, disintegration and death. His fingers are clenched like the pincers of a scorpion ready to strike. 🦂 Jesus is compared to the Sun that illuminates the scene with its divine light. 🌞

E. In Homage to the Last Supper

COPY OF THE PAINTING OF THE LAST SUPPER

Countless replicas of "The Last Supper" have been created over the centuries using various techniques and by different artists. Giacomo Raffaelli made a mosaic for Napoleon. In the chapel of Santa Kinga, one can admire a version of "The Last Supper" sculpted in salt from the Wieliczka mine . Many contemporary artists have also paid homage to this work, such as Andy Warhol with " 60 Last Suppers " and George Chakravarthi in 1998, who reinterpreted the work by depicting Christ surrounded by 12 women in saris in his work " Resurrection ".

Leonardo's workshop also produced a third copy around 1520, directed by Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli, known as Giampietrino, which is now housed at the Royal Academy in London. Although a copy, it is considered a valuable teaching tool and a window into Milan's past. Following renovations, it is currently on display on the wall of the Magdalen Chapel in Oxford.

PAINTING OF THE LAST SUPPER (CHRISTIAN CROSSES)

As these various copies attest, "The Last Supper" has inspired many representations that pay homage to this artistic monument. Currently, various versions of "The Last Supper" on canvas are available for those who wish to celebrate this iconic work in their homes.

4) "Leonardo da Vinci" Biography

A. Leonardo da Vinci in the Head of a Genius

Leonardo da Vinci was not only a jack of all trades, he was also a master of several disciplines . 🧠

His skills extended far beyond that, including mathematics, Latin, and what we now call science, in a more theoretical and experimental approach, according to art historian Martin Kemp. While other artists focused on certain aspects of anatomy, such as muscles, bones, and tendons, Leonardo took the study to a new level.

Leonardo da Vinci had many talents , but his main expertise was in drawing. Although he was not alone in designing machines and making scientific drawings, as many other engineers did so as well, Leonardo revolutionized technical drawing.

B. The Visionary Genius

By the late 1480s, Leonardo had set out to understand how nature worked, which was an ambitious goal. He was particularly interested in a set of fundamental mathematical laws , including optics and the movements of the human body . According to Kemp, he saw this as a unified approach. This may explain why many of Leonardo's machine ideas were deeply connected to nature.

Finally, despite his considerable efforts to cultivate himself in various fields such as natural sciences, mathematics, philosophy and history, Leonardo remained above all an empiricist of visual observation . 👁️ It is precisely thanks to this observation and his own genius that he developed a unique theory of knowledge, where art and science combine to form a synthesis.

C. Science and Art according to Leonardo

VISUAL SENSE OF MAN

Leonardo da Vinci strongly supports the value of the senses, stating that "the eye is less deceived than any other sense." He thus emphasizes that direct observation, essential to the creation of a painting, has a scientific and truthful quality.

He also argues that the useful results of science can be communicated and claims that painting is equally explicit. Unlike poetry, painting , he argues, offers its results directly to the visual faculty, providing immediate gratification to human beings .

Leonardo da Vinci also distinguished between painting and sculpture, arguing that the manual work of sculpture could overshadow its intellectual aspects. According to him, the illusionistic challenge of painting, which operates in two dimensions, requires the painter to have a greater command of mathematical and optical principles than that required of the sculptor.

OPTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE EYE 👁️

In defining painting as a science, Leonardo da Vinci also emphasizes its mathematical foundation. In his notebooks, he details the ten optical functions of the eye : darkness, light, body, color, shape, location, distance, proximity, movement, and rest, all considered crucial components of painting. He explores these functions by providing in-depth explanations of perspective, including discussions of systems based on geometry, proportion, and the management of light and shadow .

ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE OF THE DRAWING

It explores, through words and geometric and analytical drawings, the concepts of wide-angle vision , lateral recession, and atmospheric perspective . These techniques, which include the gradual fading of lightness and the lightening of tone, are used to create the illusion of a deep spatial recession. It also offers practical advice on how to paint optical effects such as light, shadow, distance, atmosphere, smoke, and water, as well as on the representation of aspects of human anatomy, such as facial expressions and the proportions of the human body.

D. Representation of the Human Body ''Vitruvian Man''

Although the precise date of the beginning of Leonardo da Vinci's interest in anatomy is not known, it is plausible that this interest was awakened during his apprenticeship in Verrocchio's workshop, either through the influence of his master or that of his neighbor Pollaiolo, who was known for his passion for the mechanisms of the human body . Although it is difficult to determine an exact date, Leonardo da Vinci performed body dissections to deepen his knowledge and understanding of human anatomy. Initially motivated by his artistic training, his study of anatomy later enriched his works, such as "The Last Supper", "The Mona Lisa", and many others, giving them an innovative aspect and considerable impact.

While exploring the structure of the human body , Leonardo da Vinci was captivated by the figura instrumentale dell'omo (instrumental figure of man). This led him to want to understand in depth the physical functioning of the human body. For the next two decades, he performed hands-on dissections in Milan, as well as in hospitals in Florence, Rome, and Pavia. It is estimated that Leonardo dissected around 30 cadavers. 👨‍⚕️

5) Some Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci's observations on mechanics, a field he explored as an architect and engineer, also reflected the workings of nature. Throughout his life, he was an ingenious inventor , fully understanding the mechanical principles of his time and contributing significantly to their development.

It is often forgotten that Leonardo da Vinci invented many devices that are still used today. That is why our team wanted to pay tribute to his inventions, which remain essential elements to this day, even through his artistic masterpieces such as "The Last Supper", "The Mona Lisa" and "The Vitruvian Man".

A. Flying Machine

Leonardo da Vinci's field of predilection was undoubtedly aviation. His concept of a flying machine evolved over the course of his research into what we now call biomimicry . He envisaged the possibility of making man fly thanks to a machine operated by a human operator. 🕊️

B. the Anemometer

Passionate about aviation, Leonardo da Vinci wanted to improve the first anemometer , designed by Leon Batista in 1450, in order to make it more accurate. Although he was not the inventor of the original device, da Vinci's modifications to the anemometer are the origin of the instrument we still use today. Between 1483 and 1486, da Vinci made many changes to the design to make it easier and more precise to measure wind force . These changes made the device not only easier to use, but also more accurate. 💨

C. the Helicopter

The first helicopters weren't invented until the early 1940s, but Leonardo da Vinci's plans for his flying machine had a significant influence on the development of the first helicopter . Although Leonardo never built or tested his helicopter, his design incorporated many practical elements that are still found in modern helicopters. 🚁

D. The Parachute

The modern parachute as we know it today is generally attributed to inventor Sébastien Lenormand in 1783. However, a few centuries earlier, it was Leonardo da Vinci who conceived the idea of ​​the parachute. He made sketches suggesting that if a person had a piece of linen cloth of the right size for their proportions, they could jump from any height without risk of injury.

Enthusiasts have built and tested Leonardo da Vinci's original parachute design. In 2000, a man named Adrian Nichols built a parachute based on da Vinci's drawings . The parachute was tested with resounding success, proving the validity of the artist's design. 🪂

E. Armored car

One might not think that the tank or armored vehicle was first designed by someone like Leonardo da Vinci, but it was a project to which he devoted careful attention. The vehicle invented by Leonardo had the capacity to carry a large number of weapons and to move in all directions. Among the many war machines he designed, this one was the most popular. 💣

As with many of his designs, such as "The Last Supper," the power required to power the vehicle was the main obstacle to its practical realization. His design required eight men to operate, who would have had to continually turn cranks to set it in motion.

F. the Clock

Leonardo da Vinci did not invent the first clock, but he made significant innovations to its design to improve its accuracy. The original clocks already indicated the hours and minutes as they do today, but their reliability left something to be desired. The introduction of the pendulum certainly improved their accuracy, but it was mainly da Vinci's innovations that allowed clocks to achieve the degree of precision we know today. 🕑

If we compare contemporary clocks, such as wall clocks , to those from Leonardo da Vinci's time, we can quickly see a noticeable difference in terms of composition and capacity compared to the old model designed by Vinci.

G. the Automobile

Although motorized vehicles as we know them today were not designed by Leonardo da Vinci, the original idea came from him. As with his aviation concepts, the idea of ​​a self-propelled chariot was unimaginable before Vinci proposed it and drew up his plans. He envisioned a chariot that could propel itself without external assistance, a concept that foreshadowed the principle of the modern car. Besides flight and aviation, transportation was one of his main concerns. Without a modern engine at his disposal, Leonardo incorporated springs into his design so that the chariot could move on its own. His innovative design also included elements that we find in today's cars, such as steering and braking capabilities. 🚗

H. The Bridge

Bridges existed long before Leonardo da Vinci's time, but they were still very rudimentary. Da Vinci's idea of ​​creating a swing bridge was primarily for military purposes, allowing the army to use it in times of war. The concept was based on the ability to use the bridge, then fold it up and take it away. The bridge, equipped with wheels, could be moved and repositioned as needed. As with many of Leonardo's inventions, this bridge worked thanks to a system of ropes and pulleys. It also used a system of counterweights to balance the load of users, making it easier to cross the bridge. 🌉

In his writings, Leonardo da Vinci frequently addressed topics related to war, and he considered mobility to be a key strategic advantage for the military. With his innovative designs, he often believed that he gave the military a decisive advantage over the enemy.

7) Paintings of the Last Supper at the Christian Cross Boutique

Just like Leonardo da Vinci who paid homage to the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles by painting this extraordinary masterpiece, we could not miss the opportunity to talk about " The Last Supper " and the incredible story of the artist. Leonardo played a crucial role in the history of Christianity, from the Renaissance to the present day. By painting the last meal of Jesus , he conveyed a powerful message that marked Christian minds and the entire world.

Now you know the whole story of this painting and have had a detailed insight into who Leonardo da Vinci was.

Due to its splendor, beauty and prestige, this religious painting has taken its place in the history of Christianity. This is why at Croix Chrétiennes®, we invite you to discover unique paintings of "The Last Supper" by clicking just below: