Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper 1498 A. D.

The Last Supper (1495 - 1498 A.D.) by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most well known, most studied paintings of the Renaissance period, and is also one of the most recreated pieces of our time. However, in order to understand the significance of Leonardo’s work, there must first be an understanding of the context; both the physical context of the painting, and the historical context of the event. Although, the painting can be admired and appreciated on its own, the place where this work is located brings about an importance greater than some may initially realize. The life-sized painting takes up an entire wall in a monk’s refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. As Gombrich mentions, “We must try to imagine how it may have appeared to the monks for whom it was painted” (224). A painting so large would likely strike awe into nearly all the monks who observed the work; a work so realistic, that one would feel completely immersed in it. After overcoming their awe and admiration of the lifelikeness the monks could shift their focus to the details produced by Leonardo’s hand, which would serve as a symbol and teaching tool to those who observed it. As the monks …show more content…
The last supper was the final meal Jesus Christ would share with his apostles before being crucified. It was at this last supper that Christ foretold the coming betrayal by one of his closest followers, saying, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me” (ESV Mark 14:18). Leonardo returned to this same portion of scripture (Gombrich 224), studying the texts to better understand the atmosphere of emotions and reactions that would have filled the room at this moment; it is a moment of fear, confusion, and sorrow. Leonardo’s work doesn’t simply recount the moment of betrayal, but rather, captures the emotions of the apostles immediately after the words spoken by Christ fall upon their