CONTENT AND COMPOSITION

To understand Leonardo da Vinci's LAST SUPPER, it is necessary to understand the times. RENAISSANCE means "rebirth."  For them, it was the revival or "rebirth" of the thinking of the Greeks and Romans, the essence of which was the QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY! They achieved this through their grand architecture, flamboyant literature and colossal art.  In Leonardo's case...it was through his art. Everyone wanted their image to be captured in a painting or sculpture so it would remain after their death...and they would be immortalized!  Artists were considered to be "divine" because they could accomplish this "immortality!"

Leonardo, being the overly egotistical, excessive impulsisve genius that he was, became obsessed with the QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY!  This obsession became the driving force in his art. He imbued his image and his initials into his works to immortalize himself...so he could live forever!

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                                                    THE LAST SUPPER

.  The mural is almost 30 by 30 feet, including the top arch, if it were rounded off.

. It is not a fresco, which was painted into wet plaster, but a mural painted with dry pigment mixed with oil.

.  The design is in Leonardo's one-point perspective, creating a three-dimensional effect in which the room appears to be extended.  This made it appear that the monk's were dining with Christ. 

.  Leonardo elevated it so everyone in the dining room had visual access to the mural.

.  The figures were one and a half life size, larger than life-size, like those of the Greeks and Romans.  If standing, they would be 9' tall.

. The apostles are combined into four groups of three, with Christ in the center

. The scene is captured at the dramatic moment Christ said, " ONE OF YE SHALL BETRAY ME!"

. All of the apostles are focusing on the figure of Christ.

.  A hole was discovered on the right cheek of Christ. Leonardo had driven a nail there and attached a string to draw a gian X to create the one-point-perspective.  These lines created 4 giant V's...Leonardo's V for Vinci.

. Because the one-point perspective ended on the cheek of Christ, it made him the central focus of the composition.

. The complete composition is composed of D's, L's and V's...Leonardo's initials.

. The V shape between St. John and Christ is a V...for Vinci....not the (vigina )of Mary Magdalene as susggested by Dan Brown!
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