History of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci, a luminary of the Italian Renaissance, hailed from a region proximate to Florence, a time when the Medici family held sway over much of the cultural and political landscape. This period of opulence and patronage provided fertile ground for artistic endeavors, with da Vinci's genius finding expression not only in painting but also in scientific exploration. Despite his renown, da Vinci's output in painting was relatively limited, as he devoted considerable time and effort to fulfilling commissions for various patrons, a task that consumed much of his energy.

Among da Vinci's most renowned works is "The Last Supper," a masterpiece commissioned by Ludovico il Moro between 1494 and 1498. This iconic portrayal of Jesus' final meal with his disciples, drawn from the biblical narrative in Matthew 26:21–28, encapsulates the dramatic moment of betrayal and the establishment of the Eucharist. However, the fate of this masterpiece was not without its challenges. Mold infestation on the damp walls of the Milanese monastery, where "The Last Supper" was housed, led to the deterioration of the oil pigments, causing a loss of clarity over time.

Despite such adversities, da Vinci's multifaceted talents are not confined solely to painting. His extensive collection of drawings and notebooks serves as a testament to his insatiable curiosity and innovative spirit, encompassing a wide array of subjects from anatomy to engineering. These documents provide invaluable insights into da Vinci's creative process and intellectual pursuits.

Over the centuries, "The Last Supper" has undergone several restoration efforts to preserve its splendor for posterity. The most recent restoration, completed in 1999, employed cutting-edge scientific techniques to revive the original colors and rectify the damages inflicted by previous restoration attempts. This meticulous endeavor ensures that da Vinci's iconic fresco continues to inspire and captivate audiences for generations to come, a testament to the enduring legacy of one of history's greatest polymaths.
History of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in history

The Last Supper is the late 15th century mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The Last Supper, a mural painting in Milan at the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie, represents Jesus with his Disciples during the last hours they spend together, as depicted e.g. in the Gospel of John, 13:21.

Leonardo da Vinci (pronunciation) was born on April 15, 1452 (died 1519) in the village of Vinci, just outside of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy. He was apprenticed in the shop of the painter and sculptor Verrocchio until about 1476.

The Last Supper was commissioned by Lodovico Sforza of Milan. As Lodovico’s court artist, Leonardo’s duties included constructing theatrical devices for pageants and designing weapons that could be used against the enemies of Milan- including the artist’s Florentine compatriots.

In 1494, Ludovico commissioned Leonardo to decorate the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a Sforza family religious place. Traditional decorations were chosen for two walls, epitomising the Crucifixion and the Last Supper.

Donato Montorfano worked on the Crucifixion, using a traditional setting. On the opposite wall, Leonardo began work on the Last Supper. The work is assumed to have been started around 1495–96 and was commissioned as part of a plan of renovations to the church.
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in history

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci began the Last Supper in 1495, on the refectory wall of the Sta Maria della Grazie, a Dominican convent in Milan, in the center of Northern Italy, almost exactly one thousand five hundred years after the biblical event it depicts.

It took Leonardo twelve years to complete this masterpiece, which has since been continuously restored and reproduced.

The painting is regarded as the most significant representation of the much-depicted biblical story in which Christ ate with his disciples in a suburban Jerusalem restaurant on a Thursday evening and announced he was about to be betrayed to the authorities as a prelude to his arrest, torture and death on Friday, before his resurrection on the following Sunday.

During this meal, there are three dramatic happenings. First, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as if he was a common servant, and told them that this is to be the way they are to behave from now on. Next, he told them to eat and drink the bread and wine as being his body and blood. Finally, the subject of this painting is his telling them that one of them will betray him. All twelve apostles have different reactions to the news, with various degrees of anger and shock.

The completion of The Last Supper marked the end of the first stage of Leonardo’s career, the fulfillment of his early promise in the form of a painting immediately recognized for its artistic genius.
The Last Supper