Christ says to his apostles “One of you will betray me,” and the apostles react, each according to his own personality. Referring to the Gospels, Leonardo depicts Philip asking “Lord, is it I?” Christ replies, “He that dippeth his had with me in the dish, the same shall betray me” (Matthew 26). We see Christ and Judas simultaneously reaching toward a plate that lies between them, even as Judas defensively backs away.
If you hadn’t guessed already, the piece I am referring to is The Last Supper. This painting by Leonardo Da Vinci portrays Christ’s final meal with his apostles before Judas identifies Christ to the authorities who arrest him. This painting was commissioned by the Sforza of Milan for the refectory (dining hall) of a Dominican Abbey. This piece was created in between 1494 and 1498 and is classified as being created during the High Renaissance. This particular time period was marked by the introduction of many new methods of artistic expression as well as new techniques in existing artistic formats. Many of these new techniques modified lighting and color to portray deep emotion and added drama to pieces. The culture that this piece was found was in Early Europe. This piece is the only piece made by Leonardo Da Vinci that has been found, in situ, remaining in its original intended location. The intended location for this piece is the Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Milan. This is the cite of a Gothic Dominican convent in Northern Italy. This piece is positioned in a way that allowed monks to silently eat and revere the greatness that this painting had to offer. Leonardo fashioned this piece out of oil tempera, which was newly introduced at the time. The oil tempera allowed artists to paint with brighter colors, greater contrasts, and added depth. This new technique revolutionized art and diffused across Europe very quickly following the beginning of the Renaissance. One of the advantages of this technique is that it dries very quickly, in contrast to egg tempera.
Many Renaissance artists came from humble origins. Even so, artists could achieve great fame, so great that monarchs competed to have them in their employ. None, however, could reach the amount of influence that Leonardo da Vinci held. Many revered in the sight of Leonardo and his work. Francis I of France is said to have held the dying Leonardo in his arms. Leonardo was a man of many talents. Such included invention, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, anatomy, astronomy, botany, and architecture. The list doesn’t end there. Many of these sciences are also apparent in his paintings. This reputation of his is why he was commissioned by many religious and political figureheads. Being commissioned by a religious figure was held as one of the highest honors an artist could achieve. One of these religious figures was the Sforza of Milan.
The Last Supper serves as a reactionary painting. It is meant to be an after effect of Jesus declaring that one of his apostles will betray him, followed by the aghast expressions of all of his apostles. The content of this painting also shows Jesus pointing to bread and to wine. The bread symbolizes Jesus’s body and the wine symbolizes as Jesus’s blood. Both of these objects serve as a reminder of Jesus to his followers. These objects together symbolize the Holy Sacrament. At the exact same time, Jesus is seen pointing to a plate of silver that Judas is pointing to. Jesus utters the words “He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.” Judas seems to instinctively back away. It is clearly evident that Judas is clutching a pocket of silver pieces that were given to him by the Romans as a reward for outing Jesus. Judas’s face is cast in shadow to symbolize the moment that Jesus was betrayed. This piece can be summed up by art critic Giorgio Vasari, “Leonardo imagined and has succeeded in expressing, the desire that has entered the minds of the apostles to know who is betraying their Master. So in the face of each one may be seen love, fear, indignation, or grief at not being able to understand the meaning of Christ; and this excites no less astonishment than the obstinate hatred and treachery to be seen in Judas.”
This painting features a wide array of symbolism. The first relationship that can be drawn from this painting is in the function of the painting. The painting was meant to highlight a parallel between friars in the Dominican Abbey of Santa Maria Delle Grazie eating their meals to a biblical meal of the utmost importance. It is still featured in that church, in situ. Another parallel that can be drawn is the attributes that identify each apostle in the contents of the painting. Judas is recognized both as he reaches toward a plate beside Christ and because he clutches a purse containing the reward for his betrayal. Peter is identified as he holds a knife in his right hand. This foreshadows that Peter will sever the ear of a soldier as he attempts to protect Christ from arrest. The symbolism is also very apparent in the numbers. Judas’s head is twisted, foreshadowing his eventual suicide by hanging. In the painting, twelve apostles are arranged as four groups of three. Behind Christ, there are also three windows. In Catholic art, the number three is important as it is a reference to the Holy Trinity. Likewise, the number four is also of importance in the classical tradition as it represents Plato’s four virtues. The balanced composition of the piece is exemplified by linear perspective. Orthogonal lines from the ceiling and floor point the Jesus, whose body forms an equilateral triangle. Jesus also sits below an arching pediment that if completed, traces a circle. Directly behind Christ, there is a Rectangular window that functions as a type of halo. These ideal geometric forms refer to the Renaissance interest in Neoplatonism. The Greek philosopher Plato emphasized the imperfection of the earthly realm. Geometry, used by the Greeks to express heavenly perfection, has been used by Leonardo to celebrate Christ as the embodiment of heaven on earth. In this painting, there is apparent overcrowding of individuals around a small table. This creates a sort of chaos energy that surrounds Christ in serenity. Behind Christ, a vast landscape is featured. This landscape has been interpreted as a paradise, suggesting that this heavenly sanctuary can only be reached through Christ.
In the High Renaissance, European artist discovered that canvas has a grainy texture. Artists would take great care to prepare canvas pieces in a way that would minimize the effect that the texture of the cloth canvas would have on the paint. Ideally, the canvas was made to resemble enamel like the veneer of wood. Many painting techniques would help to mask the texture of the canvas. Some of the techniques were made popular by Leonardo da Vinci. To add excessive drama to his pieces, Leonardo Da Vinci used a technique called sfumato, which translates to smokey. This technique rendered forms in a subtly soft way to create a misty effect across the painted surface. Sfumato has the effect of allowing tones and colors to shade gradually into one another, producing softened outlines or hazy forms that distance the viewer from the subject. Another technique that Leonardo Da Vinci employed was Chiaroscuro, which is a gradual transition from light to dark in a painting. In Chiaroscuro, forms are not determined by sharp outlines, but by the gradual meeting of lighter and darker areas. These effects work together to heighten the overall drama that is the Last Supper.
I choose this piece as the focus of my paper because I was drawn to the overall effect of the piece. Leonardo Da Vinci captures a moment of serenity encapsulated in chaos as many conflicting actions and symbolisms combine to create extensive drama in the piece. I was drawn in by the exaggerated use of blurred lighting to convey a sense of haziness. I was also drawn in by the use of many vehicles of symbolism that Leonardo chose to use. The symbolism is a critical part of this piece that enhances the overall visual experience. The energy that flows through this piece is one of riveting chaos and drama that centers around a holy figure. You can experience the shock and awe inside the painting 500 years later.
Many elements of art shine through in this piece. Lines are a big part of the focus of this piece. Orthogonal lines point the focus to the center of the piece, which is Jesus. This enhances the overall form of the piece. Jesus makes a shape of an equilateral triangle with Jesus through orthogonal lines. Leonardo also incorporates the rectangular windows behind Jesus as a halo. Leonardo Da Vinci uses many experimental colors and techniques in this piece. Value is one of the main factors that Leonardo Da Vinci variates in this piece. His extensive use of chiaroscuro and sfumato dither the lighting in this piece. Space or the lack of space is used extensively in this piece. There is a lack of space on the table of the apostles. This lack of space is used to convey an overall theme of chaos and overlap. Finally, the texture of this piece is grainy and fragmented. This was intended by Leonardo. This texture is also enhanced overall by the deterioration of the piece over time.
Leonardo Da Vinci used multiple visual design elements to enhance the drama in the piece. Balance is used to exemplify the serenity of Jesus in this painting. There is a contrast between both horizontal halves of the piece. There is a direct emphasis on Jesus as the whole painting revolves around him. There is implied movement of the apostles is of shock and awe. This is apparent in their faces and momentary action. There is a pattern of the arrangement of the apostles and the windows behind them. The apostles are arranged in four groups of three. The windows behind Jesus are also in a group of three. There is a direct contrast between the serenity of Jesus and the chaos and confusion that surrounds him.
The Last Supper is one of the most dramatic pieces of the Renaissance. It a piece that still interacts with pop culture today. This influential piece is the brainchild of the Renaissance Man, himself, Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo Da Vinci’s apparent talent shines through in this monumental piece that still hangs today. The piece is a pioneer in the use of sfumato and chiaroscuro. It is also a pioneer in its subject matter of Jesus’s last meal. It serves as an inspiration to artists still today and is far from forgotten.
Works Cited
Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Naraelle Hohensee, “Leonardo, Last
Supper,” in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed March 23, 2018, https://smarthistory.org/leonardo-last-supper/.
Zelazko, Alicja. “Last Supper.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Apr.
2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Supper-fresco-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci.
“The Last Supper — by Leonardo Da Vinci.” Leonardo Da Vinci — Paintings, Drawings, Quotes,
Facts, & Biography, www.leonardodavinci.net/the-last-supper.jsp.
