“The Last Supper” is a quintessential masterpiece of the High Renaissance created by the illustrious artist Leonardo da Vinci in 1495. This venerable artwork was painted using plaster and tempera, and it spans an impressive 460 x 880 cm. Leonardo da Vinci composed this religious painting in Milan, Italy, where it currently resides within the sacred walls of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The artwork depicts the biblical scene of the Last Supper, a momentous event in Christian doctrine. It portrays Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples gathered for a meal during which Christ announces that one among them would betray him. Da Vinci captures this dramatic instant with great psychological depth: the disciples are shown reacting with various degrees of shock and incredulity. The composition is remarkable for its use of perspective, with all lines converging on the central figure of Jesus, who remains tranquil amidst the surrounding commotion. Jesus’ figure acts as a stabilizing force and the focal point of the narrative as well as the geometric composition.
Da Vinci masterfully employs chiaroscuro to bring a three-dimensional quality to the figures, enhancing the realism of the scene. The array of expressions and gestures provides an insightful look into the humanity of these religious figures. This convergence of artistic technique and theological profundity makes “The Last Supper” not only a defining work of the High Renaissance but also an eternal landmark in the canon of Western art.
