Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci
1498, Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Refectory, Milan
There is a belief that Leonardo8217;s overabundance of talents and gifts 8212; including superlative male beauty, a splendid singing voice, magnificent physique, mathematical excellence, scientific daring, the list is endless 8211; caused him to treat his artistry lightly, seldom finishing a picture, and sometimes making rash technical experiments. 8216;The Last Supper8217;, in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, for example, has almost vanished, so inadequate were his innovations in fresco preparation.
The perfection of this work, however, lies in Leonardo8217;s expressive mastery. Leonardo8217;s Last Supper is an ideal pictorial representation of the most important event in the Christian doctrine of salvation 8212; the institution of the Eucharist. His representation of this part of the Christian story has achieved a unanimous acceptance and authority. No other painting of a Christian subject dominates our imagination with the same power as da Vinci8217;s 8216;Last Supper8217;. There are countless copies and reproductions of this particular painting in homes, places of worship, and museums throughout the world. However, when thoughts turn to the 8216;Last Supper8217;, we seem to see only Leonardo8217;s representation. The painting has also been subject to much attention due to the number of restorations it has had to face since its completion in the fifteenth century. The most recent restoration lasted twenty years and has been the subject of much controversy. The painting that remains so influential has been frequently referred to as 8216;8216;repainted8217;8217;, not 8216;8216;restored8217;8217;.
