Renaissance Blog

 

Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, 1495-1498 Source

    Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, for his renovations of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan during the Italian Renaissance period. The painting took around 3 years to complete but was not consistently worked on over that period of time. Da Vinci’s mastery of perspective creates a naturalistic composition which remains today one of the most significant masterpieces in the history of art.

    The painting represents the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with the twelve apostles gathered around a table, as it is told in the Gospel of John. It portrays the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said “One of you is about to betray me” Matthew 26:21. Leonardo created the painting with a new mixture of paint and canvas materials at the time. The materials gave a new edge to the painting, but it made the painting much harder to preserve.  To this day, very few aspects of the painting remain.

    There were two main influences of the painting: Royalty and Humanism. Without the pressure from The Duke of Milan, Da Vinci likely would not have ever finished the painting as he did with many of his art pieces. Sforza wanted the painting to be a part of a series of renovations to the convent with the intention that the location would become the Sforza family mausoleum. 

    Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs and souly seek to solve purely human problems. Each disciple's reaction, from shock to sorrow, mirrors the complexity of human emotions and the profound impact of Jesus' words. Jesus, in the center of the image, remains calm and collected despite the chaos around him. The disciples are differentiated by their expressions. For example: Peter and Judas are easy ones to point out. Judas is placed to Jesus’ right (left side of the painting) with one person in between them. Judas’s head, whose face is obscured, is the lowest among the apostles, highlighting his traitorous nature. His face shows a different kid of surprise than the others. He's more taken back rather than shocked. This is because he didn't think that Jesus knew he was going to betray him. Peter, on the other hand, is placed right behind Judas and is filled with anger. In the painting, Peter is holding a knife, foreshadowing how he is going to cut a guard's ear off when Jesus is arrested. Leonardo wanted to display genuine human feelings, which went right alongside the Humanist movement.  Humanism was definitely evident in Leonardo’s painting The Last Supper. 

    Leonardo fashioned this piece out of oil tempera which allowed him to paint with brighter colors, greater contrasts, and added more depth. Lines play a big part in this piece. Orthogonal lines point the focus to the center of the piece, which is Jesus. The painting's composition is anchored by an equilateral triangle formed by Christ's body. The apostles are arranged in four groups of three, and the number three is often a reference to the Holy Trinity. Space or the lack of space is used extensively in this piece. There is a lack of space on the table of the apostles. This lack of space is used to convey an overall theme of chaos and overlap. 

    The Last Supper has been a featured painting all throughout my life growing up in a catholic household. The painting is in at least three different places in my parents house as well as the homes of childhood friends. One of my favorite parts of historical art pieces is understanding the references with in the art itself and the story it tells. Da Vinci’s work is more than just a painting; it's a profound depiction of one of the most significant moments in Christian history. From a personal perspective, this artwork captivates me with its intricate details and the emotional depth it portrays. His mastery is evident in how he captures the tension and drama of the moment. Moreover, the composition of the painting, with Jesus at the center and the apostles grouped in threes, creates a sense of harmony and balance that draws the viewer's eye. The use of perspective and the careful attention to detail, such as the play of light and shadow, further enhance the painting's impact. For me, The Last Supper is a testament to da Vinci's genius and his ability to transform a biblical story into a timeless work of art that will continue to be remembered and referenced for generations to come.

Work Cited

Bosisio, Alfredo. “Ludovico Sforza | Biography, Duke of Milan, Leonardo da Vinci, & Facts.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ludovico-Sforza. Accessed 3 October 2024.

Da Vinci, Leonardo. “Analysis of the Last Supper.” Last Supper Ticket, https://lastsupperticket.com/blog/analysis-of-the-last-supper/. Accessed 3 October 2024.

Da Vinci, Leonardo. “Tempera painting | History, Techniques & Examples.” Britannica, 18 August 2024, https://www.britannica.com/art/tempera-painting. Accessed 3 October 2024.

“The Last Supper (Leonardo).” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_%28Leonardo%29. Accessed 3 October 2024.

Stockwell, Margaux. “The Last Supper: The Greatest Masterpiece of the Renaissance.” Singulart, 14 August 2019, https://www.singulart.com/en/blog/2019/08/14/the-last-supper-the-greatest-masterpiece-of-the-renaissance/. Accessed 3 October 2024.