Renaissance Blog

 Hudson Parker

Art F200X

The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci



    The work of art that I chose to represent the Italian renaissance is The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. I chose The Last Supper because it is an artwork that I've seen referenced countless times in modern media, but I never knew much about. After doing research I'm glad to say that I appreciate the history that lives in this piece of art. One day I would like to have a copy of it somewhere in my house.

    The Last Supper was painted between 1495 and 1498 on a wall in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Italy (Milan Museum, n.a). It showcases the scene that is described in Matthew 26:21, when Jesus declares that one of the Apostles will betray him. This artwork is known to be great due to the use of the expressions in the shown characters. Leonardo stated that expression should "manifest the notions of the mind"(Zelazko, 2017) and it is shown in the reactions of the 12 disciples; each disciple reacting in a way that Leonardo had considered fit for their personality. 

    Leonardo used the Renaissance technique of linear perspective to create the illusion of depth on a flat wall. To do this, he uses parallel lines that meet at a single point in the background (Jesus's right temple), which draws the viewer to the title subject of the art. What interests me the most about his use of depth is that the vantage point for viewing this art piece is ideally 15 feet above the ground (Harris, n.a). It is said that Leonardo chose this height because the bottom of the painting is already 8 feet above the ground and in order to look at it from the floor, the viewer would only be able to see the underside of the table. 




References:

Harris, Beth. “The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/a/leonardo-last-supper

Milan Museum. “The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - Useful Information.” Milan Museum, www.milan-museum.com/leonardo-last-supper-cenacolo.php

Zelazko, Alicja. “Last Supper.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Supper-fresco-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci

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