The Last Supper: the story of the famous fresco by Leonardo da Vinci. Mysteries of the painting "the last supper" by leonardo da vinci
Painting or fresco. Many people call the Last Supper a painting, but officially it is called a fresco. For those readers who do not understand the difference well, we will tell you exactly how these two types of works of fine art differ from each other.
The Last Supper is not actually a fresco, don't look at the official title. Leonardo da Vinci painted it on a dry surface, and had his own reasons for this. The fresco needs to be painted quickly enough until the plaster dries up, and the master did not want to rush.
We will not talk for a long time about the plot, the last meal of Jesus Christ. Jesus is in the center of the picture, 12 apostles around him. Jesus informs his disciples that one of them will betray him. We will tell you in detail what to look for when examining a painting at the end of this article.
Those of tourists who tried to find information about the Last Supper in English or Italian noticed that this work is called in a completely different way. Only in our language does it bear such a beautiful name. In other European languages, it is called more simply - “The Last Supper”. “Last super” in English or “L“ Ultima Cena ”in Italian These names will come in handy for buying tickets online.
Ticket problem.
After the release of the film "The Da Vinci Code", the popularity of this attraction has greatly increased and still does not subside. Tourists are allowed inside strictly for 15 minutes and in a limited group of 25 people. It is not always possible to buy tickets at the box office; at the peak of the summer season, tickets may not be available for a week in advance. In winter, the situation is much better, tickets can usually be bought for an excursion on the current day.
You can book your tickets in advance via the internet. There are several sites where you can do this. All of them do not have Russian-language versions, only Italian and English.
The first site, vivaticket.it, is notable for its democratic prices. The ticket costs only 11.5 euros, including the services of a guide. But on this site you have to register to buy a ticket, and this procedure is not easy.
The second site - www.milan-museum.com makes it possible to buy tickets without registration, but you still have to enter your contact information and credit card information. The minimum ticket price on this website is 23.5 euros.
The third site - www.tickitaly.com is even more expensive, but it is also the most understandable and user-friendly. The easiest way to buy tickets here, but they cost from 33 euros.
In any case, you will be sent a voucher that will need to be printed and presented at the checkout, in exchange for it you will receive a ticket.
What to look at when you get inside.
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The painting The Last Supper depicts the moment when Jesus informs his disciples that one of them will give it. The traitor Judas Iscariot is to the left of Jesus Christ. He is easily recognizable by his blue and green clothes. (in the photo on the right, we showed Judas with a large red square). Jesus said: "He who dipped his hand with Me into the dish, this one will betray Me"... Indeed, you see that Judas and Jesus reach out to the same dish. By this, the author shows that Judas has already been exposed, but no one at the table notices this. We have shown the hands using the red squares in the photo on the right. By the way about the photo. Taking pictures inside is strictly prohibited. Although, this does not stop many tourists. |
The second thing to notice is the face of Christ himself. He knows his fate, his expression is not at all like fear. It was on this face that Leonardo da Vinci worked the most.
And, of course, it is worth paying attention to the faces of the apostles. They are confused, each asking Jesus if he is a traitor. Many have fear or surprise on their faces.
Another interesting detail is at the bottom of the painting, right below Christ. This is part of the doorway, which was made here after the fresco was badly destroyed from time to time.
There are three last suppers in the world.
In the Monastery of Santa Maria del Grazie in Milan, there is an original by Leonardo da Vinci himself. In fact, there are not many of the master's brushstrokes left. Since the artist painted on a dry surface, after 20 years the Last Supper began to collapse, and after 60 years the figures were already hard to distinguish.
In Italy, a doorway was made in their place, but they, of course, remained on the copies. One of these copies is in London at the Royal Academy of Arts. A second copy can be seen in Switzerland at the Church of St. Ambrogio.
We wish you a successful visit to Milan and an interesting view of the Last Supper fresco. Read about other attractions in Italy in our articles ( links below).
Secrets of the fresco by Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper"
Leonardo da Vinci- the most mysterious and unexplored person of the past years. Someone ascribes God's gift to him and canonize him as a saint, someone, on the contrary, considers him an atheist who sold his soul to the devil. But the genius of the great Italian is undeniable, because 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.
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The last supper
Location and history of creation
The famous fresco is in the church Santa Maria delle Grazie located in the eponymous square of Milan. Or rather, on one of the walls of the refectory. According to historians, the artist specially depicted in the picture exactly the same table and dishes that were at that time in the church. By this he tried to show that Jesus and Judas (good and evil) are much closer to people than it seems.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
The painter received an order to write a work from his patron, the Duke of Milan. Ludovico Sforza in 1495. The ruler was famous for his dissolute life and from a young age was surrounded by young bacchantes. The situation was not changed at all by the presence of a beautiful and modest wife in the duke. Beatrice d'Este, who sincerely loved her husband and, due to her meek disposition, could not contradict his way of life. I must admit that Ludovico Sforza sincerely respected his wife and was in his own way attached to her. 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 Leonardo da Vinci ordered was a fresco, which his late wife had once asked for, and forever stopped all entertainment at court.
Last supper in the refectory
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 seen if you step back 9 meters to the side and rise 3.5 meters up. Moreover, there is something to see. Already during the life of the author, the fresco was considered his best work. Although, it would be wrong to call the painting a fresco. The fact is that Leonardo da Vinci wrote the work not on wet plaster, but on dry, 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 later did a disservice, beginning to deteriorate just 20 years after painting. But more on that later.
The idea of the work
The Last Supper depicts the last Passover supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples-apostles, held in Jerusalem on the eve of his arrest by the Romans. According to the scriptures, Jesus said during the meal that one of the apostles would betray him. Leonardo da Vinci tried to portray the reaction of each of the students to the prophetic phrase of the Teacher. To do this, he walked around the city, talked with ordinary people, made them laugh, upset, encouraged. And he himself watched the emotions on their faces. The author's goal was to portray the famous dinner from a purely human point of view. That is why he depicted all those present in a row and did not draw a halo over his head to anyone (as other artists liked to do).
Sketch of the last supper
Interesting Facts
So we got to the most interesting part of the article: the secrets and features hidden in the work of the great author.
Jesus on the fresco of the Last Supper
1 ... According to historians, the hardest thing for Leonardo da Vinci was to write 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. Once an Italian saw in the church choir a young singer - so spiritualized and pure that there was no doubt: here he is - 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 not perfect enough.
The last unwritten character in the picture was Judas. The artist wandered for hours through the most sinister places, looking for a model for painting among the degraded people. And now, almost 3 years later, he was lucky. In a ditch, there was an absolutely downcast type in a state of strong alcoholic intoxication. The artist ordered to bring him to the workshop. The man almost did not stay on his feet and did not understand 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 bewilderment of the author, 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. So, according to historians, Jesus and Judas were copied from the same person at different periods of his life. This once again underlines the fact that good and evil go so close that sometimes the line between them is imperceptible.
By the way, during the work, Leonardo da Vinci was distracted by the abbot of the monastery, who constantly rushed the artist and argued that he should paint a picture for days, and not stand in front of it in thought. Once the painter could not resist and promised the abbot to write off Judas from him if he did not stop interfering in the creative process.
Jesus and Mary Magdalene
2. The most discussed secret of the fresco is the figure of the disciple, located on 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 the mistress of Jesus, as is commonly believed, but his lawful wife. This fact is confirmed by the letter "M", which is formed by the contours of the bodies of the pair. Allegedly, she means the word "Matrimonio", which in translation means "marriage." Some historians argue with this statement and insist that the painting shows the signature of Leonardo da Vinci - the letter "V". The first statement is supported by the mention that Mary Magdalene washed the feet of Christ and wiped them with her hair. According to tradition, 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 laid the foundation for the Merovingian dynasty.
3. Some scholars argue that the unusual arrangement of the students in the painting is not accidental. Say, Leonardo da Vinci placed people according to ... signs of the zodiac. According to this legend, Jesus was a Capricorn, and his beloved Mary Magdalene was a virgin.
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 acted with it in a truly barbaric way. 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 door in the wall depicting the "Last Supper", which "cut off" the legs of the characters. A little later, the Milanese coat of arms was hung over the head of the Savior. And at the end of the 17th century, a stable was made from the refectory. 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 with the work that he seriously thought about how to transport it to his home.
Fresco the last supper
5. No less interesting are the reflections 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 subject of controversy is still the fish in the picture. Contemporaries still cannot agree on what is painted on the fresco - herring or eel. Scientists believe that this ambiguity is not accidental. The artist specially encrypted the hidden meaning in the painting. The fact is that in Italian "eel" is pronounced like "aringa". We add one more letter, 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 an atheist artist, the second interpretation is closer.
As you can see, a single picture contains many secrets and innuendos, over the disclosure of which more than one generation has been struggling. Many of them will remain unsolved. And contemporaries will only have to speculate and repeat the masterpiece of the great Italian in paints, marble, sand, trying to prolong the life of the fresco.
"Culturology"
The Last Supper is one of the outstanding works of the Renaissance. And one of the most mysterious. Today, the best art critics are working on deciphering the symbols of the fresco. The editors Interesting to know collected the most interesting guesses, versions and proven facts about one of the most recognizable works of Leonardo da Vinci.
"The Last Supper"
The famous fresco is in the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy). And it was commissioned by the patron of the artist - the Duke of Milan, Louis Sforza . The ruler was an adherent of an openly dissolute life, and the beautiful and modest wife, Beatrice d'Este, did not in the least prevent the young duke from living as he used to. His wife, by the way, loved him strongly and sincerely, and Louis himself, in his own way, was attached to her. And after the sudden death of his wife, the duke, in grief for about two weeks, did not leave his room. And when he left, the first thing he turned to da Vinci with a request to paint a fresco, which his wife had asked for during his lifetime. By the way, after the death of Beatrice, the Duke forever stopped all kinds of entertainment at court.
Churches of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)
Da Vinci began work on the fresco in 1495, its dimensions are 880 by 460 cm.However, the painting should be called a fresco with a small reservation: after all, the artist did not work on wet plaster at all, but on dry one. This little trick allowed him to edit the painting multiple times. And given the fact that the "Last Supper" was finally completed only in 1498, it was a technical necessity.
Already during the artist's lifetime, "the last meal of Jesus Christ" was considered his best work. According to the scriptures, it is during dinner that Jesus speaks to the apostles about the imminent betrayal. Da Vinci wanted to portray what is happening exclusively from a human point of view. And the emotions that the apostles experienced, he looked for among ordinary people. By the way, it is believed that this is precisely why there are no halos over the heroes. To depict the reaction to the words of the Teacher, he wandered around the city for hours, started conversations with strangers, made them laugh, upset and watched the changes in their faces.
"Last Supper" in the refectory
The work on the fresco was almost complete; the last unwritten heroes were Jesus and Judas. It is believed that in these heroes the artist concluded the concepts of good and evil, and for a long time could not find models suitable for such absolute images. But one day da Vinci saw a young singer in the church choir. The young man made an indelible impression on the artist, and it was he who became the prototype of Jesus.
Judas remained the last unwritten character. In search of a model, the artist wandered around the hot spots for a long time. The truly desolate man “had to” become Judas. And only 3 years later, such a person was found - in a state of alcoholic intoxication, in a ditch, absolutely sank and dirty. The artist ordered to bring the drunkard to the workshop, where Judas was written off from the man. When the drunkard came to his senses, he went to the fresco and said that he had seen the paintings. Da Vinci in bewilderment asked when it was ... And the man replied that 3 years ago, when he sang in the church choir, a certain artist approached him with a request to write off Christ from him. Thus, according to the assumptions of some historians, Jesus and Judas were written off from the same person at different periods of his life.
Sketches for the Last Supper
During his work, the artist was often rushed by the abbot of the monastery, he kept insisting that the picture should be painted, and not standing in front of it in thought. Then da Vinci threatened that if the abbot did not stop interfering, he would certainly write off Judas from him.
The most discussed figure of the fresco is the disciple, located to the right of Christ. Presumably, the artist depicted Mary Magdalene. It is even believed that she was the wife of Jesus, and this is what da Vinci hinted at, placing her in such a way that the contrasts of the bodies of Jesus and Mary formed the letter "M" - "Matrimonio", which translates as "marriage." However, this assumption is disputed by other historians, believing that the picture does not depict the letter "M" at all, but "V" - the artist's signature. The first version is also supported by the fact that Mary Magdalene washed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair, and according to tradition, only a lawful wife could do this.
Jesus on the fresco "The Last Supper"
There is also a curious legend that the apostles were arranged by the artist according to the signs of the zodiac. And if you believe this version, then Jesus was a Capricorn, and Mary Magdalene was a virgin.
An even more curious fact is that during the bombing during the Second World War, almost the entire building of the church was destroyed, except for the wall with a fresco. The people themselves, on the whole, did little to cherish the masterpiece of the Renaissance, and were far from merciful to it. For example, after the flood of 1500, which caused serious damage to the painting, it was never restored. In 1566 in the wall "The Last Supper" a door was made, which "crippled" the heroes of the fresco. And at the end of the 17th century, the refectory was converted into a stable.
Jesus and Mary Magdalene
Historians, by the way, disagree about the food depicted in the fresco. For example, the question of what kind of fish is depicted on the table - herring or eel - is still open. A number of researchers believe that this ambiguity was originally conceived by da Vicni. The question is somewhat purely linguistic: in Italian, "eel" is pronounced "arringa", and if you double "r", you get a completely different meaning - "arringa" (instruction). At the same time, in Northern Italy, “herring” is pronounced like “renga”, and in translation it also means “one who denies religion,” and da Vinci himself was just such. By the way, near Judas there is an overturned salt shaker, which has long been considered a bad omen, and the table and dishes depicted in the picture are an exact copy of those that were in the church at the time of the painting.
The very name of the famous work of Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper" carries a sacred meaning. Indeed, many of Leonardo's canvases are fanned with an aura of mystery. In The Last Supper, as in many other works of the artist, there is a lot of symbolism and hidden messages.
The restoration of the legendary creation was recently completed. Thanks to this, it was possible to learn a lot of interesting facts related to the history of the painting. Its meaning is still not entirely clear. More and more new guesses are being born about the hidden message of The Last Supper.
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most enigmatic personalities in the history of the visual arts. Some practically rank the artist among the saints and write laudatory odes to him, while others, on the contrary, consider him a blasphemer who sold his soul to the devil. But at the same time, no one doubts the genius of the great Italian.
The history of the painting
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 should be noted, respected and respected very much.
But, unfortunately, the true power of his love manifested itself only when his wife died suddenly. The duke's grief was so great that he did not leave his own quarters for 15 days, and when he left, the first thing he ordered Leonardo da Vinci for a fresco that 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. Best of all, the "Last Supper" can be seen if you step back 9 meters to the side and rise 3.5 meters up. Creating the picture, Leonardo used egg tempera, which, later, played a cruel joke with 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 specially depicted in the picture exactly the same table and dishes that were used at that time in the church. With this simple trick, he tried to show that Jesus and Judas (Good and Evil) are much closer than we think.
Interesting Facts
1. The personalities of the apostles depicted on the canvas have repeatedly become the subject of controversy. Judging by the inscriptions on the reproduction of the canvas stored in Lugano, these are (from left to right) Bartholomew, Jacob the Younger, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Thomas, Jacob the Elder, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeus and Simon Zealot.
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. However, there is also an alternative version. It will be discussed below ...
3. Many people from the school course know the story that the images of Jesus and Judas were the most difficult for da Vinci. 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 an Italian, while serving in the church, saw a young man in the choir, so spiritualized and pure that there was no doubt: here it is - the incarnation of Jesus for his "Last Supper".
The last character whose prototype the artist could not find was Judas. Da Vinci spent hours wandering the narrow Italian streets in search of a suitable model. And now, after 3 years, the artist found what he was looking for. In the ditch lay a drunkard who had long been at the edge of society. The artist ordered to bring the drunkard to his studio. The man practically did not stay on his feet and was poorly aware of 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 bewilderment of the author, the man replied that three years ago he was a completely different person - he sang in the church choir and led a righteous life. It was then that some artist approached him with a proposal to paint Christ from him.
So, according to the assumptions of 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 fine line between them.
4. The most controversial is the opinion that at the right hand of Jesus Christ sits not a man at all, but none other than Mary Magdalene. Her location indicates that she was the lawful wife of Jesus. The letter M is formed from the silhouettes of Mary Magdalene and Jesus. It supposedly means the word matrimonio, which is translated as "marriage."
5. According to some scholars, the unusual arrangement of students on the canvas is not accidental. Say, Leonardo da Vinci placed people according to the signs of the zodiac. According to this legend, Jesus was a Capricorn, and his beloved Mary Magdalene was a Virgin.
6. It is impossible not to mention the fact that during the Second World War, as a result of a shell hit in the building of the church, almost everything was destroyed, except for the wall on which the fresco is depicted.
And before that, in 1566, local monks made a door in the wall depicting 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 head of the Savior. And at the end of the 17th century, a stable was made from the refectory.
7. No less interesting are the thoughts of people of art about the food depicted on the table. For example, near Judas, Leonardo drew 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 temper and his atheistic views, this hypothesis is more than likely.
I think that even if you do not consider yourself to be a connoisseur of high art, you are still interested in this information. If so, share the article with your friends.
For many art critics and historians, "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci is the greatest work of art. This 15 x 29 ft fresco 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 in the first twenty years of its existence. Da Vinci's Last Supper was painted in a large layer of egg tempera. Under the paint was a rough compositional sketch in red. The customer for the fresco was Lodovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan.
"The Last Supper" is a picture that captures the moment when Jesus Christ announced to his disciples that one of them would betray him. The personalities 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 these are: Bartholomew, the younger Jacob, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Thomas, the elder Jacob, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon Zealot. 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 paintings, "The Last Supper" shows the amazing variety of emotions of the characters evoked by the message of Jesus. 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 Discovery of the Knights Templar authors Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince claim that The Last Supper is filled with encrypted symbols. First, to the right of Jesus (for the viewer to the left), in their opinion, it is not John at all who is sitting, but some woman in a garment that contrasts with the garment of Christ. The space between them resembles the letter "V", while the shapes themselves form the letter "M". Secondly, they believe that next to the image of Peter in the picture, you 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 (for the viewer to the right) Thomas with a raised finger turns to 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 (for the viewer to the left) has feminine features. And do the letters "V" and "M", formed by the contours of the bodies, carry any symbolic meaning? Prince and Picknett argue that this placement of the figures hints that the feminine character is Mary Magdalene and not John at all. In this case, the letter "V" symbolizes the feminine principle. And "M" just means the name - Mary Magdalene.
As for the hand, deprived of the body, upon careful examination, it is still clear that it belongs to Peter, he just twisted it, which explains the unusual position. There is nothing special to say about Thomas, who raised him up like John the Baptist. Disputes on this score can go on for a long time, and you can decide for yourself whether or not you agree with such an assumption. as noted by Prince and Picknett, it does bear some similarities with 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 is turned with its back to the main character.
The Last Supper was recently restored, 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 guesses are being born. Who knows, maybe someday we will be able to learn at least a little about the plans of the great master.