Last Supper.
Leonardo da Vinci- the most mysterious and unstudied personality of past years. Some ascribe to him a gift from God and canonize him as a saint, while others, on the contrary, consider him an atheist who sold his soul to the devil. But the genius of the great Italian is undeniable, since everything that the hand of the great painter and engineer ever touched was instantly filled with hidden meaning. Today we will talk about the famous work "The Last Supper" and the many secrets it hides.
Location and history of creation:
The famous fresco is in the churchSanta Maria delle Grazie, located on the square of the same name in Milan. Or rather, on one of the walls of the refectory. According to historians, the artist specifically depicted in the picture exactly the same table and dishes that were in the church at that time. By this he tried to show that Jesus and Judas (good and evil) are much closer to people than they seem.
The painter received an order to paint the work from his patron, the Duke of Milan.Ludovico Sforzain 1495. The ruler was famous for his dissolute life and from a young age was surrounded by young bacchantes. The situation did not change at all because the Duke had a beautiful and modest wife.Beatrice d'Este, who sincerely loved her husband and, due to her meek disposition, could not contradict his way of life. We must admit thatLudovico Sforzahe sincerely revered his wife and was attached to her in his own way. But the dissolute duke felt the true power of love only at the moment of the sudden death of his wife. The man's grief was so great that he did not leave his room for 15 days. And when I came out, the first thing I did was orderLeonardo da Vincifresco, which his late wife had once asked for, and forever stopped all entertainment at court.
The work was completed in 1498. Its dimensions were 880 by 460 cm. Many connoisseurs of the artist’s work agreed that it was best"Last Supper"You can see it if you move 9 meters to the side and rise 3.5 meters up. Moreover, there is something to see. Already during the author’s lifetime, the fresco was considered his best work. Although, calling the painting a fresco would be incorrect. The fact is thatLeonardo da VinciI wrote the work not on wet plaster, but on dry plaster, in order to be able to edit it several times. To do this, the artist applied a thick layer of egg tempra to the wall, which subsequently did a disservice, beginning to collapse just 20 years after the painting was painted. But more on that later.
Idea of the piece:
"The Last Supper"depicts the last Easter dinner of Jesus Christ with his disciples and apostles, which took place in Jerusalem on the eve of his arrest by the Romans. According to scripture, Jesus said during a meal that one of the apostles would betray him.Leonardo da VinciI tried to depict the reaction of each of the students to the prophetic phrase of the Teacher. To do this, he walked around the city, talked to ordinary people, made them laugh, upset them, and encouraged them. And at the same time he observed the emotions on their faces. The author's goal was to depict the famous dinner from a purely human point of view. That is why he depicted everyone present in a row and did not draw a halo above anyone’s head (as other artists liked to do).
Now we have reached the most interesting part of the article: the secrets and features hidden in the work of the great author.
1. According to historians, the most difficult thing isLeonardo da Vincigiven the writing of two characters: Jesus and Judas. The artist tried to make them the embodiment of good and evil, so for a long time he could not find suitable models. One day, an Italian saw a young singer in a church choir - so spiritual and pure that there was no doubt left: here he was - the prototype of Jesus for him."Last Supper". But, despite the fact that the image of the Teacher was painted,Leonardo da VinciI corrected it for a long time, considering it insufficiently perfect.
The last unwritten character in the picture was Judas. The artist spent hours wandering through the worst places, looking for a model to paint among the degraded people. And now, almost 3 years later, he got lucky. An absolutely degenerate guy was lying in a ditch, in a state of severe alcoholic intoxication. The artist ordered him to be brought to the studio. The man could hardly stand on his feet and had no idea where he was. However, after the image of Judas was painted, the drunkard approached the picture and admitted that he had already seen it before. To the author’s bewilderment, the man replied that three years ago he was completely different, led a correct lifestyle and sang in the church choir. It was then that some artist approached him with a proposal to paint Christ from him. Thus, according to historians, Jesus and Judas were based on the same person at different periods of his life. This once again emphasizes the fact that good and evil go so close that sometimes the line between them is imperceptible.
By the way, while workingLeonardo da Vincidistracted by the abbot of the monastery, who constantly hurried the artist and argued that he should paint a picture for days, and not stand in front of it in thought. One day the painter could not stand it and promised the abbot to write off Judas from him if he did not stop interfering in the creative process.
2. The most discussed secret of the fresco is the figure of the disciple located at the right hand of Christ. It is believed that this is none other than Mary Magdalene and her location indicates the fact that she was not Jesus' mistress, as is commonly believed, but his legal wife. This fact is confirmed by the letter “M”, which is formed by the contours of the couple’s bodies. Supposedly it means the word "Matrimonio", which translated means "marriage". Some historians argue with this statement and insist that the signature is visible in the paintingLeonardo da Vinci- letter "V". The first statement is supported by the mention that Mary Magdalene washed Christ’s feet and dried them with her hair. According to traditions, only a legal wife could do this. Moreover, it is believed that the woman was pregnant at the time of her husband’s execution and subsequently gave birth to a daughter, Sarah, who marked the beginning of the Merovingian dynasty.
3. Some scholars argue that the unusual arrangement of the students in the picture is not accidental. They sayLeonardo da Vinciplaced people by... zodiac signs. According to this legend, Jesus was a Capricorn and his beloved Mary Magdalene was a virgin.
4. It is impossible not to mention the fact that during the bombing during the Second World War, a shell that hit the church building destroyed almost everything except the wall on which the fresco was depicted. Although, the people themselves not only did not take care of the work, but also treated it in a truly barbaric manner. In 1500, a flood in the church caused irreparable damage to the painting. But instead of restoring the masterpiece, the monks in 1566 made a hole in the wall with the image"Last Supper"a door that “cut off” the characters’ legs. A little later, the Milanese coat of arms was hung over the Savior’s head. And at the end of the 17th century, the refectory was turned into a stable. The already dilapidated fresco was covered with manure, and the French competed with each other: who would hit the head of one of the apostles with a brick. However, there were"Last Supper"and fans. The French king Francis I was so impressed by the work that he seriously thought about how to transport it to his home.
5. No less interesting are the thoughts of historians about the food depicted on the table. For example, near JudasLeonardo da Vincidepicted an overturned salt shaker (which at all times was considered a bad omen), as well as an empty plate. But the biggest point of controversy is still the fish in the picture. Contemporaries still cannot agree on what is painted on the fresco - a herring or an eel. Scientists believe that this ambiguity is not accidental. The artist specifically encrypted the hidden meaning in the painting. The fact is that in Italian “eel” is pronounced “aringa”. We add one more letter, and we get a completely different word - “arringa” (instruction). At the same time, the word “herring” is pronounced in northern Italy as "renga", which means "one who denies religion". For the atheist artist, the second interpretation is closer.
As you can see, in one single picture there are hidden many secrets and understatements, which more than one generation has been struggling to uncover. Many of them will remain unsolved. And contemporaries will only have to speculate andrepeat a masterpiece the great Italian in paints, marble, sand, trying to extend the life of the fresco.
Each work of Leonardo da Vinci is unique and mysterious. There are many mysteries surrounding the Last Supper. Even the name of the painting carries a sacred meaning. There are many hidden messages and symbols in the work.
Not long ago, the legendary work was restored. After the restoration of the canvas, it was possible to learn a lot of new things, although the entire meaning of the painting is still not clear. More and more new assumptions about the hidden meaning of the picture are constantly appearing.
It is Leonardo da Vinci who is rightly considered the most mysterious person in the fine arts. There are radically different opinions regarding his work. Some people consider Leonardo to be practically a holy man, while others are sure that he sold his soul to the devil. But, no matter what one’s opinion is about the work and personality of Leonadro da Vinci, no one doubts his genius.
The history of the painting
It’s hard to believe, but the monumental painting “The Last Supper” was made in 1495 by order of the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. Despite the fact that the ruler was famous for his dissolute disposition, he had a very modest and pious wife, Beatrice, whom he, it is worth noting, greatly respected and revered.
But, unfortunately, the true power of his love was revealed only when his wife suddenly died. The Duke's grief was so great that he did not leave his own chambers for 15 days, and when he left, the first thing he did was order Leonardo da Vinci to paint a fresco, which his late wife had once asked for, and forever put an end to his riotous lifestyle.
The artist completed his unique creation in 1498. The dimensions of the painting were 880 by 460 centimeters. The Last Supper can be best seen if you move 9 meters to the side and rise 3.5 meters up. When creating the painting, Leonardo used egg tempera, which subsequently played a cruel joke on the fresco. The canvas began to collapse just 20 years after its creation.
The famous fresco is located on one of the walls of the refectory in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. According to art historians, the artist specifically depicted in the picture exactly the same table and dishes that were used at that time in the church. With this simple technique, he tried to show that Jesus and Judas (Good and Evil) are much closer than we think.
1. The identities of the apostles depicted on the canvas have repeatedly become the subject of controversy. Judging by the inscriptions on the reproduction of the canvas kept in Lugano, these are (from left to right) Bartholomew, James the Younger, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Thomas, James the Elder, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeus and Simon Zelotes.
2. Many historians believe that the painting depicts the Eucharist (communion), since Jesus Christ points with both hands to the table with wine and bread. True, there is an alternative version. It will be discussed below...
3. Many people know the story from school that Da Vinci found the most difficult images of Jesus and Judas. Initially, the artist planned to make them the embodiment of good and evil and for a long time could not find people who would serve as models for creating his masterpiece.
Once, during a church service, an Italian saw a young man in the choir, so spiritual and pure that there was no doubt: this was the incarnation of Jesus for his “Last Supper.”
The last character whose prototype the artist still could not find was Judas. Da Vinci spent hours wandering the narrow Italian streets in search of a suitable model. And now, 3 years later, the artist found what he was looking for. Lying in the ditch was a drunkard who had long been on the edge of society. The artist ordered the drunkard to be brought to his studio. The man practically could not stand on his feet and had little idea where he had ended up.
After the image of Judas was completed, the drunkard approached the picture and admitted that he had seen it somewhere before. To the author’s bewilderment, the man replied that three years ago he was a completely different person - he sang in a church choir and led a righteous lifestyle. It was then that some artist approached him with a proposal to paint Christ from him.
Thus, according to historians, the same person posed for the images of Jesus and Judas at different periods of his life. This fact serves as a metaphor, showing that good and evil go hand in hand and there is a very thin line between them.
4. The most controversial is the opinion that sitting on the right hand of Jesus Christ is not a man at all, but none other than Mary Magdalene. Her location indicates that she was the legal wife of Jesus. The silhouettes of Mary Magdalene and Jesus form the letter M. It supposedly means the word matrimonio, which translates as “marriage.”
5. According to some scientists, the unusual arrangement of the students on the canvas is not accidental. They say that Leonardo da Vinci placed people according to zodiac signs. According to this legend, Jesus was a Capricorn and his beloved Mary Magdalene was a Virgo.
6. It is impossible not to mention the fact that during the Second World War, as a result of a shell hitting the church building, almost everything was destroyed except the wall on which the fresco is depicted.
And before that, in 1566, local monks made a door in the wall with the image of the Last Supper, which “cut off” the legs of the characters in the fresco. A little later, the Milanese coat of arms was hung over the Savior’s head. And at the end of the 17th century, the refectory was turned into a stable.
7. No less interesting are the thoughts of people of art about the food depicted on the table. For example, near Judas Leonardo painted an overturned salt shaker (which at all times was considered a bad omen), as well as an empty plate.
8. There is an assumption that the Apostle Thaddeus, sitting with his back to Christ, is actually a self-portrait of da Vinci himself. And, given the artist’s disposition and his atheistic views, this hypothesis is more than likely.
I think that even if you do not consider yourself a connoisseur of high art, you are still interested in this information. If so, share the article with your friends.
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One of the most famous and mysterious works of art in the whole world is undoubtedly the fresco by Leonardo da Vinci - “The Last Supper”. The artist worked on it from 1495 to 1498. The Last Supper is Leonardo's visual interpretation of the last Easter dinner of Jesus Christ with his disciples - the apostles. In the evening, on the eve of Judas' betrayal, Christ gathered them together to inform them that one of them would soon betray him. In the fresco, da Vinci depicted all 12 apostles who had just heard this phrase, with emotions of anger, shock and horror on their faces.
How to buy a ticket
Anyone in Milan can admire the famous fresco. To do this, you need to pre-book your ticket on this website.. It is better to reserve a date and time 2 months before the trip, because... There are a lot of people who want to get into the treasured refectory. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is located atPiazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 2. A full ticket costs 12€, a reduced ticket costs 7€. You can also book a guided tour, where you will learn a lot of interesting things about life and creations. You can do this on this.
How the fresco was created
Leonardo had not worked with frescoes before, so he had problems on the technical side. The painting was made using tempera directly on a dry plaster wall and, unlike frescoes, where pigments were mixed with wet plaster, it began to crumble and fade very early. Because of this, da Vinci's work was subject to repeated restoration, thanks to which today we can enjoy this great work of art.
We have collected 10 educational facts about “The Last Supper”, which will be interesting to know before visiting the main attraction of Milan:
- Disagreements about symbolism in this work are numerous. For example, some scholars have examined the meaning of the scattered salt near the elbow of Judas. Such a sign can symbolize failure or betrayal.
- Scientists also noted food choice da Vinci. They dispute whether the fish on the table is a herring or an eel, since each carries its own symbolic meaning. Translated into Italian, these fish mean a person who denies religion.
- According to the Italian musician Giovanni Maria Pala, Leonardo da Vinci encrypted notes at The Last Supper. In 2007, Pala created a 40-second melody from recordings that were allegedly hidden in the mural.
- In 2010, Sabrina Sforza Galizia worked on mathematical and astrological indicators in the fresco as a message to Leonardo da Vinci about the end of the world. According to her testimony, the artist reports that the apocalypse will take place in 4006.
- At the end of the 20th century, restorer Panin Brambilla Barchilon and his team worked to remove additional layers of paint and restoration of the original. Critics claim that only part of the painting that exists today is the original work of Leonardo da Vinci.
- At the beginning of the 16th century, three students of Leonardo da Vinci drew reproductions of "The Last Supper". Giampietrino made a full-scale copy, which is now in the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The second reproduction of the painting, by Andrea Solari, is on display at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Belgium, and the third, by the artist Cesare da Sesto, can be seen in the Church of Sant'Ambrogio in Switzerland.
- Duke Ludovico Moro commissioned The Last Supper from Leonardo, who came to Milan in 1482. The painting was done in the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Subsequently, the cathedral and the fresco became two symbols of the noble Milanese Sforza family, to which Duke Lodovico Moro belonged.
- Da Vinci's painting failed several times restoration(in 1726, 1770, 1853, 1903, 1924, 1928 and 1978).
- Due to the rapid deterioration of visibility and the quality of the painting, caused mainly by the fine dust that visitors carry with them, access to the Last Supper is currently limited limited to 1300 visitors in a day.
- Fresco area amazing - 8.80 meters wide and 4.60 meters high.
We wish you unforgettable emotions!
From October 15 to Sunday December 3, 2017 over 8 Sundays you can see Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece “The Last Supper” until 22.00.
The extended opening hours of the museum will increase the number of visitors by 3,000 people. The museum will be open until 22.00 (last opening at 21.45):
October 15
22 of October
29th of October
November 5 (free admission in honor of the Una Domenica al Museo initiative)
November 12
November 19
November 26
December 3 (free admission in honor of the Una Domenica al Museo initiative)
Only a certain part of the tickets can be pre-booked by phone 02 92800360, the rest of the tickets will be sold at the museum box office from 14.00 on the day of visiting the museum.
“The Last Supper” (“Cenacolo Vinciano”)
In the heart of Milan in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie houses the greatest work of world art by Leonardo da Vinci “The Last Supper” (“Cenacolo Vinciano” in Italian ) . I would like to note that this work is not a painting, but fresco, which a talented artist painted on the wall of the monastery refectory.
The fresco depicting the scene of Christ's last meal with his disciples was commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Maria Sforzo. The painting was started by Leonardo in 1495 and completed in 1498; work proceeded intermittently.
The approximate dimensions of the fresco are 880 by 460 cm. It is noteworthy that the artist executed the work not on wet plaster, but on dry plaster, in order to be able to edit it several times. The artist applied a thick layer of egg tempra to the wall, which caused the destruction of the fresco 20 years after it was painted.
Fresco “The Last Supper”:
This fresco depicts the most terrible story of betrayal and the manifestation of the most selfless love. The main characters are the teacher and the student who betrayed him. Both know what will happen and both will not make an attempt to change anything.
The picture of the last meal of Jesus with the apostles was recreated by many painters, but no one, neither before nor after Leonardo da Vinci, was able to convey the drama of the New Testament narrative with such expressiveness. Unlike other artists, Leonardo did not paint an icon; he was interested in non-church dogmas, but human feelings of the Savior and his disciples. Thanks to the techniques used by the master, observers seem to find themselves inside the fresco. No other painting on the theme of the Last Supper can compare with uniqueness of the composition and drawing of details Leonardo's masterpiece.
The work is believed to depict the moment when Jesus utters the words that one of the apostles will betray him (“and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me”), and the reaction of each of them.
As in other depictions of the Last Supper of that time, Leonardo places those sitting at the table on one side so that the viewer can see their faces. Most previous writings on the subject excluded Judas, placing him alone at the opposite end of the table from where the other eleven apostles and Jesus sat, or depicting all the apostles except Judas with a halo. Judas clutches a small pouch, perhaps representing the silver he received for betraying Jesus, or an allusion to his role among the twelve apostles as treasurer. He was the only one with his elbow on the table. Knife in hand Petra, pointing away from Christ, perhaps refers the viewer to the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane during the arrest of Christ.
Gesture of Jesus can be interpreted in two ways. According to the Bible, Jesus predicts that his betrayer will reach out to eat at the same time he does. Judas reaches for the dish, not noticing that Jesus is also stretching out his right hand to him. At the same time, Jesus points to bread and wine, symbolizing the sinless body and shed blood respectively.
The figure of Jesus is positioned and illuminated in such a way that the viewer's attention is drawn primarily to him. The head of Jesus is at a vanishing point for all lines of perspective.
The painting contains repeated references to the number three:
The apostles sit in groups of three;
behind Jesus there are three windows;
the contours of the figure of Christ resemble a triangle.
The light illuminating the entire scene does not come from the windows painted behind, but comes from the left, like the real light from the window on the left wall.
In many places in the picture there is a golden ratio; for example, where Jesus and John, who is on his right, put their hands, the canvas is divided in this ratio.
How to visit the Last Supper fresco by Leonardo da Vinci in Milan:
Viewing of the fresco is carried out groups of up to 30 people. Be sure to book your ticket in advance, and the reservation must be paid immediately. There are many websites that sell tickets at exorbitant prices, but it is more profitable and reliable to buy on the official website of the Italian Ministry of Culture www.vivaticket.it.
Tickets can be purchased online, but this is very difficult and almost impossible during the peak tourist season, so it is advisable to take care of purchasing tickets well in advance of your trip.
20 minutes before the show, in the building to the left of the church, you need to exchange your reservation slips for the tickets themselves. The entrance to the “Last Supper” is also located there.
Ticket prices:
An adult ticket costs 10 euros + 2 euros booking fee.
Book by phone: +39 02 92800360
Ticket sales:
FROM DECEMBER 13 ticket sales for the month of March
FROM JANUARY 12 ticket sales for the month of April
FROM FEBRUARY 8 ticket sales for the month of May
FROM MARCH 8 ticket sales for the month of June
Opening hours of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie:
8.15 -19.00, break from 12.00 to 15.00.
On pre-holiday and holiday days the church is open from 11.30 to 18.30. Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25.
How to get to Santa Maria delle Grazie:
by tram 18 towards Magenta, stop Santa Maria delle Grazie
Metro line M2, stop Conciliazione or Cadorna
For many art critics and historians, Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" is his greatest work. This fresco measures 15 x 29 feet and was created between 1495-1497. The artist painted it on the wall of the refectory in the Milan monastery of Santa Maria della Grazie. Even in the era when Leonardo himself lived, this work was considered the best and most famous. According to written evidence, the painting began to deteriorate already in the first twenty years of its existence. Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" was painted on a large layer of egg tempera. Beneath the paint was a compositional rough sketch drawn in red. The customer of the fresco was Lodovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan.
“The Last Supper” is a painting that captures the moment Jesus Christ announced to his disciples that he would be betrayed by one of them. The identities of the apostles have repeatedly become the subject of controversy, but judging by the inscriptions on the copy of the painting stored in Lugano, from left to right they are: Bartholomew, the younger James, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Thomas, the elder James, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon Zelotes. Art critics believe that the composition should be perceived as an interpretation of communion, because with both hands Christ points to the table with bread and wine.
Unlike other similar films, The Last Supper shows a surprising variety of characters' emotions caused by Jesus' message. No other creation based on the same plot can even come close to da Vinci's masterpiece. What secrets did the famous artist encrypt in his work?
The authors of The Discovery of the Templars, Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, claim that The Last Supper is filled with encrypted symbols. Firstly, to the right of Jesus (to the viewer's left), in their opinion, it is not John who sits at all, but some woman in a robe that contrasts with the clothing of Christ. The space between them resembles the letter “V”, while the figures themselves form the letter “M”. Secondly, they believe that next to the image of Peter in the painting one can see a certain hand with a clenched knife, which cannot be attributed to any of the characters. Thirdly, depicted to the left of Jesus (to the viewer's right), Thomas with a raised finger addresses Christ, and this, the authors believe, is a gesture characteristic of. Finally, fourthly, there is a hypothesis according to which Thaddeus, sitting with his back to Jesus, - this is a self-portrait of da Vinci himself.
Let's figure it out in order. Indeed, if you look closely at the picture, you can see that the character sitting to the right of Christ (to the viewer’s left) has feminine features. Do the letters “V” and “M” formed by the contours of the bodies carry any symbolic meaning? Prince and Picknett argue that this arrangement of figures suggests that the female character is Mary Magdalene and not John. Moreover, the letter “V” symbolizes the feminine principle. And “M” just means the name - Mary Magdalene.
As for the disembodied hand, upon careful examination it is still clear that it belongs to Peter, he just twisted it, which explains the unusual position. There is not much to say about Thomas, who rose up like John the Baptist. Disputes on this matter can continue for a long time, but decide for yourself whether you agree or not with such an assumption. as Prince and Picknett noted, it does indeed bear some similarities to Leonardo da Vinci himself. In general, in many of the artist’s paintings dedicated to Christ or the Holy Family, you can see the same detail: at least one of the figures has their back turned to the main character.
“The Last Supper” recently underwent restoration, which made it possible to learn a lot of interesting things about it. But the true meaning of forgotten symbols and secret messages is still unclear, so new assumptions and conjectures are being born. Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to learn at least a little about the plans of the great master.
