Leonardo's most famous work is the famous “Last Supper” in the Milan monastery of Santa Maria della Grazie. This painting, which in its present form represents a ruin, was completed between 1495 and 1497. The reason for the rapid deterioration, which made itself felt already in 1517, was a unique technique that combined oil with tempera.
One of the most famous works Leonardo da Vinci located in the monastery of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan - this "The Last Supper". The fresco, which today is a pitiful sight, was painted at the end of the 15th century. The image deteriorated very quickly, after twenty years the masterpiece was already in need of restoration - the reason for this was a special technique that combined tempera with oil.
The painting of the fresco was preceded by long and careful preparation. Leonardo fulfilled huge amount sketches that helped to select the most suitable gestures and poses of the figures. The artist considered in the plot of “The Last Supper” not only the deep dogmatic content, but also the enormous human tragedy, which allows you to reveal the characters of the characters in the painting and demonstrate their emotional experiences. For da Vinci, “The Last Supper” was primarily a scene of betrayal, so one of the tasks was to introduce a dramatic note into this traditional biblical story, which would give the fresco a completely new emotional coloring.
Reflecting on the concept of “The Last Supper,” the artist made notes describing the behavior and actions of certain participants in the scene: “The one who drank puts the cup on the table and fixes his gaze on the speaker, the other, having joined his fingers, frowns and looks at his comrade , the third shows his palms and raises his shoulders in surprise...” These records do not mention the names of the apostles, but da Vinci clearly identified the posture, facial expressions and gestures of each of them. The figures had to be arranged in such a way that the entire composition represented a single whole, conveying all the poignancy of the plot, full of passions and emotions. According to Leonardo, the apostles are not saints, but simple people who experience current events in their own way.
“The Last Supper” is considered the most mature and complete creation of da Vinci. The painting attracts with the amazing convincingness of the compositional solution; the master manages to avoid any elements that could distract the viewer from the main action. The central part of the composition is occupied by the figure of Christ, depicted against the background of the door opening. The apostles are moved away from Christ - this was done on purpose to concentrate more attention on him. For the same purpose, Leonardo placed the head of Jesus at the point of convergence of all lines of perspective. The students are divided into four groups, each of which looks dynamic and lively. The table is small in size, and the refectory is designed in a simple, strict style. Thanks to this, the emphasis is on characters whose plastic power is truly great. All these techniques demonstrate the deep creative intent and artistic determination of the author.
Carrying out the painting, Leonardo set himself the most important goal - to realistically convey the mental reactions of the apostles to the words of Jesus: "One of you will betray me". The image of each student is an almost complete, formed human temperament and character, which has its own uniqueness, and therefore their reaction to Christ’s prediction is different.
Da Vinci's contemporaries saw the genius of The Last Supper precisely in the subtle emotional differentiation, the embodiment of which was facilitated by the variety of poses, gestures and facial expressions of the characters. This feature of the fresco makes it stand out from the background of more early works depicting a biblical story. Other masters, such as T. Gaddi, D. Ghirlandaio, C. Roselli and A. Del Castanto, depicted students sitting at the table in calm, static poses, as if they had nothing to do with what was happening. These artists were unable to characterize Judas in sufficient detail from the psychological side and placed him isolated from the rest of the apostles on the other side of the table. Thus, the villainous opposition of Judas to the congregation was created artificially.
Da Vinci managed to break this tradition. Using rich artistic language made it possible to do without exclusively external effects. Leonardo's Judas is grouped with the other disciples, but his features in a certain way distinguish him from the apostles, so that an attentive viewer quickly recognizes the traitor.
All characters in the action are endowed with individuality. Before our eyes, in the congregation, which just a moment ago was in complete calm, the greatest excitement is growing, caused by the words of Jesus, piercing the dead silence like thunder. Most impulsive reaction to speech Christ three students sitting on his left side. They form an integral group, united by common gestures and willpower.
Philip jumps up from his seat, sending his perplexed question to Jesus, Jacob, without hiding his indignation, spreads his arms, leaning back slightly, Thomas raises his hand up, as if trying to understand and evaluate what is happening. In a group sitting right hand from the Teacher, a slightly different mood reigns. It is separated from the figure of Christ by a considerable distance, and the emotional restraint of its participants is obvious. Judas, clutching a purse of silver in his hands, is depicted in a turn, his image is imbued with trembling fear of Jesus. The figure of Judas is deliberately painted in more dark colors, it contrasts sharply with the light and in a bright way Joanna, who limply lowered his head and humbly folded his hands. Wedged between John and Judas Peter, who leans his hand on John’s shoulder and says something to him, leaning close to his ear, with his other hand Peter decisively grabs the sword, wanting to protect the Teacher at all costs. The disciples sitting near Peter look at Christ in surprise, as if they are asking a silent question, they want to know the name of the traitor. The last three figures were placed on the opposite side of the table. Matthew, with his arms outstretched towards Jesus, indignantly turns to Thaddeus, seeking an explanation from him for such unexpected news. But the elderly apostle is also in the dark, showing this with a bewildered gesture.
The figures seated at either end of the table are shown in full profile. This was not done by chance: Leonardo thus closed the movement sent from the center of the painting; the artist used a similar technique earlier in the painting “The Adoration of the Magi”, where this role was played by the figures of a young man and an old man located at the edges of the canvas. However, in this work we do not see such deep psychological techniques; traditional means of expression are mainly used here. In "The Last Supper", on the contrary, a complex emotional subtext is clearly expressed, analogous to which in Italian painting The 15th century does not exist. Da Vinci's contemporaries immediately recognized the genuine genius of the transfer of a by no means new plot and took The Last Supper at its true worth, dubbing it a new word in fine art.
Jesus Christ, together with his disciples, was captured by Leonardo during their last meeting at dinner the evening before his execution. Therefore, it is not surprising that the fresco was made in the monastery dining room. The master, as befits a true genius, worked chaotically. At some times, he could not leave his creation for days, and then give up work for a while. The Last Supper was da Vinci's only major completed work. The painting was applied in an unconventional way, were used oil paints, rather than tempera - this allowed the work to be done much more slowly and made it possible to make some changes and additions along the way. The fresco is painted in a unique style; the viewer may get the impression that the image is behind foggy glass.
If we talk about monuments of art and culture that have global significance, one cannot fail to mention the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci. And, undoubtedly, one of the most famous is his work “The Last Supper”. Some claim that the master was inspired to write it by the spark of God, while others insist that for the sake of such mastery he sold his soul to the devil. But one thing is undeniable - the skill and care with which the artist recreated all the nuances of the scene from the Gospel still remains an unattainable dream for most painters.
So, what secrets does this image hide? Read and find out!
Scene last supper Christ with his disciples
The history of the painting
Leonardo da Vinci received an order to write “The Last Supper” from his patron, the Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza. This happened in 1495, and the reason was the death of the ruler’s wife, the modest and pious Beatrice d’Este. During her life, the famous womanizer Sforza neglected communication with his wife for the sake of entertainment with friends, but still loved her in his own way. The chronicles note that after the death of his lady, he declared fifteen days of mourning, praying in his chambers and not leaving them for a minute. And after this period expired, he ordered the court artist (who at that time was Leonardo) a painting in memory of the deceased.
The fresco is located in the Dominican Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Its painting lasted three whole years (whereas it usually took about three months to complete such a painting) and was completed only in 1498. The reason for this was the unusually large size of the work (460x880 cm) and the innovative technique used by the master.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Milan
Leonardo da Vinci did not paint on wet plaster, but on dry plaster, so that he could see the colors and details. In addition, he used not only oil paints, but also tempera - a mixture of pigment and egg white - which also caused the rapid deterioration of the work. The painting began to collapse twenty years after the artist made the last stroke. Now, in order to preserve it for posterity, a whole range of special events are being carried out. If this is not done, the fresco will completely disappear within 60 years.
Master's plan
Leonardo da Vinci's painting The Last Supper depicts one of the most famous and moving episodes in the Gospel. According to theological calculations, it was she who opened the Lord’s path to the cross, as the final battle with evil and death. At this moment, Christ's love for humanity was manifested clearly and visibly - He sacrificed divine light to go into death and darkness. By sharing bread with the disciples, the Lord thereby joined each of us and left His testament. But at the same time, someone may reject this possibility - after all, God is not only love, but also freedom, and this is demonstrated to us by the act of Judas.
In order to adequately convey this deep and meaningful scene in colors, Leonardo did significant preparatory work. As indicated in the notes of his contemporaries, he walked the streets of Milan in search of models. The master made them laugh, upset them and surprised them, watched how people quarreled and made peace, confessed their love and parted - so that he could later reflect this in his work. That's why All participants in the Last Supper in the fresco are endowed with individuality, their own expression, pose and mood.
First sketches of the Last Supper. Located in the Venetian Academy
In addition, the painter abandoned traditional icon painting canons in favor of a realistic and natural image. At that time, painting Jesus and the apostles without the usual crowns, halos and mandorlas (golden radiance around the entire figure) was a rather bold idea, which was even criticized by some priests. But after the completion of the work, everyone unanimously admitted that no one had ever been able to convey the divine meal better.
Secrets of the painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
It is known that da Vinci was not only famous artist, but also an inventor, engineer, anatomist, scientist, and some even attribute to him a connection with various mystical societies, of which there were quite a lot in Europe in the 15th century. Therefore, thanks to the skill of their creator, the works of Leonardo da Vinci also carry a certain touch of mystery and enigma. And it is precisely around the “Last Supper” that there are extremely many such prejudices and hoaxes. So, what secrets did the creator encrypt?
According to historians who study creative heritage Renaissance, the most difficult thing for the master was to write Jesus and Judas Iscariot. The Lord was supposed to appear before the audience as the embodiment of kindness, love and piety, while Judas was to become his opposite, a dark antagonist. It is not surprising that da Vinci could not find suitable sitters. But one day during a service, he saw a young singer in the church choir - his young face was so spiritual and impeccable that the painter immediately realized that this particular person could become a prototype of Christ. But even after his figure was painted, the artist spent a long time adjusting and correcting it, trying to achieve perfection.
Leonardo drew the prototype of Judas and Jesus from one sitter, without knowing it
All that remained was to depict Iscariot - and again Leonardo could not find the right person. He went to the dirtiest and most neglected areas of Milan, wandering for hours through low-quality taverns and ports, trying to find someone whose face would serve as a suitable model. And finally, luck smiled at him - in a roadside ditch he saw a drunk man. The artist ordered him to be taken to church and, without even allowing him to wake up from his intoxication, began to capture the image. After finishing the work, the drunkard said that he had already seen it once, and even participated - only that time they painted Christ from him... According to contemporaries, this proved how thin the line is between a prosperous life and a fall - and how easy it is to cross it!
It is also interesting that the rector of the church in which the fresco was located often distracted Leonardo da Vinci, pointing out that he should work harder and not stand for hours in front of the image - and certainly not wander around the city in search of sitters! Finally, the painter got so tired of this that one day he promised the abbot that he would paint Judas with his face if he did not immediately stop commanding and pointing!
Disciple or Mary Magdalene?
There are still discussions about who Leonardo da Vinci depicted in the painting to the left hand of the Savior. According to some art critics, the gentle, graceful face of this character simply cannot belong to a man, which means that the artist introduced Mary Magdalene into the plot, one of the women who followed the Shepherd. Some go even further, suggesting that she was the legal wife of Jesus Christ. Confirmation of this is found in the arrangement of figures on the fresco - leaning towards each other, they form a stylized letter “M”, meaning “Matrimonio” - marriage. Other researchers do not agree with this, assuring that the outlines of the bodies can only be connected into the letter “V” - da Vinci’s initials.
Jesus and Mary Magdalene on the Last Supper fresco
But there is other evidence that Magdalene was the wife of Christ. Thus, in the Gospel you can see references to how she washed His feet with myrrh and dried them with her hair (John 12:3), and this could only be done by a woman legally married to a man. In addition, some apocrypha claim that at the time of the Lord’s crucifixion on Golgotha, Mary was pregnant, and the daughter Sarah born to her became the ancestor of the French royal dynasty of the Merovingians.
Placement of figures and objects
The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci is distinguished not only by the realistic and lively human figures - the master carefully worked out the space surrounding them, the cutlery, and even the landscape. Each feature of the work contains a coded message.
For example, scientists have found that the order in which the figures of the apostles are located on the fresco is not at all random - it corresponds to the sequence of the zodiac circle. So, if you adhere to this pattern, you can see that Jesus Christ was a Capricorn - a symbol of moving forward, to new heights and achievements, spiritual development. This sign is identified with Saturn - the deity of time, fate and harmony.
But the mysterious figure next to the Savior, which was already mentioned above, is located under the sign of Virgo. This is another proof in favor of the fact that the master showed Mary Magdalene in the picture.
Amber icon “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
It is also interesting to study the arrangement of objects on the table. In particular, near Judas’s hand you can see an upside-down salt shaker (which was already considered a sign of trouble in those days), and in addition, his plate is empty. This is a sign that he was unable to accept the grace given by the coming of the Lord and rejected His gift.
Even the fish served to the diners is a reason for disputes. Art critics have long debated what exactly Leonardo depicted. Some say that this is a herring - its Italian name, “aringa”, is consonant with “arringare” - teaching, preaching, instruction. But according to others, this is an eel - in the dialect of Eastern Italy it is called “anguilla”, which for Italians sounds similar to “one who rejects religion”.
During its existence, the fresco was repeatedly in danger of destruction. So, during World War II, an artillery shell that flew into the window of the church disfigured and partially destroyed all the walls - except for the one where the work was written!
The famous painting still exists - and reveals more and more secrets to us, the solution of which is yet to be solved. In the meantime, you can admire numerous copies and reproductions made from a variety of materials. For example, the Last Supper made of amber, poured from semi-precious crumbs and inlaid with large stones, is simply amazing - it combines masterful execution and the mystery of the original!
Leonardo da Vinci is 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 famous work"The Last Supper" and the many secrets it hides.
Location and history of creation:
The famous fresco is located in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, located in 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 Sforza in 1495. The ruler was famous for his dissolute life and youth 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. It must be admitted that Ludovico Sforza 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 he came out, the first thing he did was order Leonardo da Vinci to paint a fresco, which his late wife had once asked for, and forever stopped all entertainment at court.
Pictured is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The work was completed in 1498. Its dimensions were 880 by 460 cm. Many connoisseurs of the artist’s work agreed that “The Last Supper” can best be viewed 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 that Leonardo da Vinci 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 a little later.
The photo shows the Last Supper in the refectory.
Idea of the piece:
“The Last Supper” depicts the last Easter dinner of Jesus Christ with his disciples and apostles, held 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 Vinci 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)
Pictured: Sketch of the Last Supper
1. According to historians, Leonardo da Vinci had the hardest time writing 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: here he was - the prototype of Jesus for his “Last Supper”. But, despite the fact that the image of the Teacher was painted, Leonardo da Vinci 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 in a state of severe alcoholic intoxication was lying in a ditch. 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 working, Leonardo da Vinci was distracted 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 creative process.
The photo shows Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
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 Leonardo da Vinci's signature - the letter "V" - is visible in the painting. 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 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 virgin.
Pictured is Mary Magdalene
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, in 1566 the monks made a door in the wall depicting the Last Supper, which “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, The Last Supper also had fans. The French king Francis I was so impressed by the work that he seriously thought about how to transport it to his home.
The photo shows the Last Supper fresco.
5. No less interesting are the thoughts of historians about the food depicted on the table. For example, near Judas Leonardo da Vinci depicted 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 specially encrypted in the painting hidden meaning. 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.
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 point 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 a little 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 in a state of severe alcoholic intoxication was lying in a ditch. 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.
Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" anticipates new stage development of Italian art - High Renaissance.
The illusory space visually continues the real space of the refectory. The planes of the side walls and ceiling extending into the depths act as an illusory continuation of the walls and ceiling of the refectory, but do not completely coincide with them due to their somewhat forced spatial perspective. In addition, the table with the figures sitting behind it is located slightly above the floor level of the refectory, and the figures are shown not in life size, but slightly larger. Thus, the impression of complete optical unity of real and illusory spaces is eliminated, their relationship becomes more complicated, losing its uniqueness. The sacred action is no longer mixed with everyday and everyday affairs and appears more important and significant.
Even more striking is the impression of extreme tension plot collision, which leaves a fresco by Leonardo. It is achieved through a carefully thought-out composition of a pictorial story about the gospel event. The moment is shown when Jesus has just uttered his words: “... one of you who eats with Me will betray Me,” and therefore all compositional trajectories are drawn towards his figure - not only the optical, but also the semantic center of the work. Lonely and isolated from the rest, additionally highlighted by the image of a window behind Christ’s back, falling into the focus of the convergence of perspective lines, his figure acts as a sign of unshakable calm and unshakable confidence in the correctness of the chosen path. The spatial “pauses” on either side of her are visually read as an image of a truly “deathly” silence that immediately followed his words, giving way to a discord of bewildered exclamations and the unison sounding “isn’t it me?”
Each of the figures of the apostles represents a certain type of expression, using the language of facial expressions and gestures to personify bewilderment, anger, and fear. To bring together all this diversity of mental movements, Leonardo subordinates the image to strict compositional discipline. You can notice that the apostles are united in groups, three in each, which is why, in contrast to each other, their figures receive additional expressiveness. With this principle of compositional grouping, the internal rhythm of the action is revealed with amazing clarity, moreover, it gets the opportunity to develop over time. In fact, each group represents a certain stage of understanding the words heard from the Teacher. An explosion of emotions, the epicenter of which is in the center of the table, where Jesus sits, in the form of a weakening echo reaches the ends of the table, from where, through the gestures of the apostles sitting at its ends, it returns to its starting point - the figure of Christ.
