About The Last Supper by Da Vinci
Da Vinci's Last Supper (1494-98) portrays the scene of Christ's last meal with the 12 Apostles as set forth in the New Testament Gospels, in which Christ prophesied that one of the 12 would betray him.
Significance
Da Vinci's Last Supper was the first portrait to depict biblical characters displaying common human emotions. The composition's perspective is flawless, as its center point is precisely at Christ's head.
Features
The mural measures 15 feet high by 29 feet wide and covers the back wall of the refectory at Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.
Types
Da Vinci decided against traditional fresco painting because it required wet plaster and rapid painting. Instead, he used tempera on a dry base, which allowed him the time necessary for completing the monumental project.
Effects
The Last Supper portrays the moment after Christ informed the Apostles that one of them would betray him. The perplexed, alarmed Apostles reveal what Da Vinci called the "motions of the mind."
Considerations
By 1977 the mural had deteriorated and became unrecognizable. A 21-year restoration ensued that effectively removed the pollutants accumulated over the centuries on the mural's surface.
