Lecture on Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper"

Setting and Context

• Location: Santa Maria della Grazie, Milan
• Displayed in the refectory where monks would eat silently
• Frequent subject in religious paintings

Narrative of the Painting

• Moment Depicted:
  • After Christ announces, "One of you will betray me."
  • Apostles' varied reactions to this shocking revelation
• Sacrament of Eucharist:
  • Christ reaching for wine and bread, symbolizing the institution of the sacrament
  • "Take this bread, for this is my body... this is my blood."
• Identification of Judas:
  • Christ and Judas reaching for the same bowl
  • Judas holding a bag of silver, face in shadow, symbolizing betrayal

Artistic Interpretation

• Multiple Moments Depicted:
  • Apostles' reactions to betrayal and Eucharist
  • Eternal importance of the event without using halos
• Figures and Composition:
  • Christ forms an equilateral triangle, head framed by a circle, symbolizing calmness and divinity
  • Crowded figures create energy and chaos
  • Separation of divine from human, apostles crowded at the table with no room behind them

Artistic Techniques and Innovations

• Leonardo's Approach:
  • Simplification of space, focus on figures and gestures
  • No entry into apostles' space, separation by the table
  • Judas among apostles, not isolated
• Use of Perspective:
  • Different perspective than viewer’s; elevates viewer's perspective
  • Ideal viewing point would be 10-15 feet off the floor

Analysis of Apostles' Reactions

• Christ: Serene, one hand up, one down
• Judas: In shadow, pulling away
• Peter: Protective, holding a knife
• John: Resigned, eyes closed
• Thomas: Pointing upwards, foreshadowing resurrection proof
• Philip and James the Major: Opposing gestures
  • Unified composition reflects High Renaissance style

Technical Aspects and Preservation

• Painting Technique:
  • Experimentation with oil paint and tempera on dry plaster instead of wet fresco
  • Resulted in early deterioration
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Conservation has preserved the painting despite early deterioration

Conclusion

• Represents High Renaissance ideals
  • Combines chaos of human experience with divine calmness
  • Unites earthly and divine elements