Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
this incredible painting was commissioned to Leonardo by the
Dominican monks who
owned the S.Maria delle Grazie monasteryLeonardo took four years to
complete it but the results were astonishing.
Leonardo managed to represent perfectly
the tempest of emotions created by the unexpected announcement of Christ
"One of you will betray me". It's like being there.
I can assure you, as a tour guide I've seen it so many times
yet it always moves me because it's like a frozen emotional explosion
and it has a cinematographic quality that perfectly suits our modern sensibility.
the last Supper summarises
in itself all the various aspects of the genius of Leonardo
for example his absolute attention to details is expressed in the realism of
even the smallest objects like the food bowl
or the crisps of the tablecloth. You can find his deep knowledge of the human nature
in the different emotions he put in the faces and gestures of the Apostles
rage,
pain,
surprise,
incredulity.
Try to get the subtle way in which he paints the relationship between Christ and Judas,
the only two people in the room knowing the truth about the traitor
and therefore united by this painful awareness.
There are so many layers of meaning, symbols and details
that make it a masterwork I could go on for hours... but beware!
if you haven't booked your tickets well in advance there is little possibility
you can get to see it
unfortunately this is the result of the experimental technique used by Leonardo
for painting the Last Supper,
egg tempera on wall, which gave him spectacular artistic results
but proved very fragile over time
making the Last Supper always at risk of vanishing forever
that's why entrances have to be rigorously limitated:
no more than 30 people every 15 minutes
and that's why it's so difficult to find the tickets!