If you have found a vacation rental in Milan, one of the must-see attractions that almost everyone will pencil into their visit is a trip to see The Last Supper for themselves. One of the most iconic works in the history of art, it has influenced generations of art and pop culture for centuries now and is something that most have seen at some point in their lives. However, like all things, it is a different experience entirely to see something with your own eyes and in person.
The Last Supper is a late 15th-century mural (note: it is a mural and not a fresco, this will be important later!) that was painted by the world famous Leonardo da Vinci on a wall in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It is thought to have been begun some time between 1495 and 1496 and was commissioned as part of a plan of renovations to the convent complex. All of this was sponsored by the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, who was da Vinci's great patron and host at the time.
Depicted is the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, as it is told in the Gospel of John, 13:21. This was a popular scene in European art and had been portrayed many times beforehand but da Vinci's composition and dynamic and emotional action would go on to become incredibly influential. He chose to depict the moment when Jesus announced that one of the disciples would betray him and their varied reactions and the ensuing chaos.
Despite the influence, importance and beauty of the work, Henry James called it ‘an illustrious invalid’ while Aldous Huxley called it ‘the saddest work of art in the world’. This is because of the state in which it remains today. Centuries of existence, damage in WWII, poor restoration jobs in the past and da Vinci's own inventiveness have all left its toll on the work but it is, perhaps, the artist that deserves the greatest blame. Ever the inventor, he decided to use an experimental mix of oil and tempera as he wished to find a method to allow for greater detail and luminosity than traditional frescoes could offer. The Last Supper was painted on a dry wall rather than on wet plaster and, as a fresco cannot be modified as the artist works, he chose to seal the stone wall with a double layer of dried plaster. He also added an undercoat of white lead to enhance the brightness of the oil and tempera that was applied on top. These changes allowed him to work on the painting for years, rather than weeks, as he pleased. However, even in his lifetime, this unstable mix proved disastrous and wear and tear became quickly visible.
Thankfully, the stunning work is still around today, be sure to read on to the next article to learn about its salvation and how to plan a visit!
Depicted is the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, as it is told in the Gospel of John, 13:21. This was a popular scene in European art and had been portrayed many times beforehand but da Vinci's composition and dynamic and emotional action would go on to become incredibly influential. He chose to depict the moment when Jesus announced that one of the disciples would betray him and their varied reactions and the ensuing chaos.
Despite the influence, importance and beauty of the work, Henry James called it ‘an illustrious invalid’ while Aldous Huxley called it ‘the saddest work of art in the world’. This is because of the state in which it remains today. Centuries of existence, damage in WWII, poor restoration jobs in the past and da Vinci's own inventiveness have all left its toll on the work but it is, perhaps, the artist that deserves the greatest blame. Ever the inventor, he decided to use an experimental mix of oil and tempera as he wished to find a method to allow for greater detail and luminosity than traditional frescoes could offer. The Last Supper was painted on a dry wall rather than on wet plaster and, as a fresco cannot be modified as the artist works, he chose to seal the stone wall with a double layer of dried plaster. He also added an undercoat of white lead to enhance the brightness of the oil and tempera that was applied on top. These changes allowed him to work on the painting for years, rather than weeks, as he pleased. However, even in his lifetime, this unstable mix proved disastrous and wear and tear became quickly visible.
Thankfully, the stunning work is still around today, be sure to read on to the next article to learn about its salvation and how to plan a visit!