The Last Supper: Leonardo da Vinci’s Iconic Masterpiece
At the Last Supper, Jesus might have been announcing a betrayal, but let's be honest, the real shocker for the apostles was discovering Judas had already eaten all the breadsticks.
Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper (c. 1495–1498) is one of the most celebrated and influential works of art in history. Painted on the wall of the dining hall of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, it captures the dramatic moment during the Passover meal when Jesus announces that one of his disciples will betray him.
A Moment of Shock
At the centre sits Jesus, calm and still, his arms open on the table. Around him, the twelve apostles erupt. Leonardo grouped them in four clusters of three, each figure reacting differently: shock, anger, disbelief, sorrow. Hands fly up, heads turn and bodies lean in. It's a wave of emotion rippling out from the centre, and it draws the viewer straight into the story.
Leonardo's mastery of gesture and expression was revolutionary. He studied real people obsessively, filling notebooks with faces, and each apostle feels like an individual rather than a type.
A Masterclass in Perspective
The composition is meticulously planned. The lines of the ceiling, walls and table all converge on a single vanishing point behind Jesus's head, drawing your eye to him every time. The window behind him frames his head with light, taking the place of a traditional halo. Combined with the room's architecture, this creates a powerful illusion of depth, as if the painted room extends the real dining hall.
A Fragile Experiment
Traditional fresco is painted quickly onto wet plaster, but Leonardo liked to work slowly, revising as he went. So he experimented with tempera and oil on dry plaster instead. It allowed rich detail and subtle colour, but the paint didn't bond properly with the wall, and it began flaking within his own lifetime.
The painting has survived remarkable trials since: a doorway cut through the bottom of the wall in the 1650s, centuries of damp and dust, and a bomb that hit the refectory in 1943, when sandbags protected the wall. A meticulous restoration completed in 1999, after more than 20 years of work, revealed as much of Leonardo's original painting as could be saved.
Visiting Today
The Last Supper is still in its original home in Milan. To protect it, visitors are admitted in small groups for a short, timed visit, and tickets often sell out well in advance.
More Than a Painting
Beyond its brilliance, The Last Supper is a profound exploration of faith, betrayal and human emotion. It has inspired countless interpretations, and plenty of conspiracy theories. Explore them in The Last Supper's Hidden Stories.
Fascinated by Leonardo? Read about his other masterpiece, The Mona Lisa, and discover his quirkier side in 10 Funniest Art Facts From History. For another Renaissance giant, see Michelangelo's Creation of Adam.
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