The mystery of the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, which can not be solved to this day

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is an iconic Renaissance masterpiece that has been praised, rewritten and emulated over the years. However, despite all the hardships and troubles, this painting is still in the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery in Milan.

It turned out that Leonardo began to work on the fresco at a time that was absolutely inappropriate for this, namely, literally a year before Louis XII, being king of France, decided to fight Italy. For Italy, it was a time of trouble and a turning point that began a terrifying, bloody and difficult war for both sides.

The invasion of Louis meant that Leonardo lost his job, since at that time he was working on one masterpiece - a monument to the horse, which was supposed to be made of natural bronze. Leonardo spent about ten years on this work, but Louis's decision had very sad consequences for him. At that time, bronze was considered a very valuable material that was readily used for the manufacture of weapons. Therefore, it is not surprising that his work was quickly taken apart, considering that a monument to the world is needed less than a few tools.

So da Vinci lost colossal funds due to hostilities. It was this statue that could bring him not only profit, but also insane fame in the then artistic world, the fame he had dreamed of for so long. At the same time, he was assigned the task of painting a picture that we know to this day, and which was supposed to save him from financial ruin.

It is believed that he began work on it in 1495-1496, and the canvas itself was completed in 1498. It depicts the famous scene from Holy Thursday, in which Jesus and his apostles share a last meal before death and resurrection. During lunch, Jesus said that one of his disciples would betray him and hand him over to the authorities for execution (it was Judas, whom da Vinci portrays spilling salt on the table). This picture is a reflection of the reaction of those close in spirit to Jesus, the apostles, when he said that one of them would be his traitor.

Each figure is unique and memorable down to the smallest detail. According to Ross, never before has an artist created such drama in a painting, with such realistic figures and minute details. Take, for example, how skillfully the right hand of Christ is made, seen through the transparent surface of the wine glass. Many art historians consider such detailing to be the highest degree of skill.

It is not at all surprising that over the entire period of its existence, this work of art has faced many dangers. A year later, King Louis decided it was time to conquer Milan. Then he saw this fresco, which he liked so much that initially he wanted to scrape it off the wall and take it with him.

Later, towards the end of the 16th century, the fresco was significantly damaged by moisture, and some of its parts peeled off, and therefore it was believed that it was completely destroyed.

Three hundred years later, in 1796, the French were able to return again, this time as a Republic. The troops that invaded the territory of Milan occupied the dining room, in which the painting was located. It is believed that with its help the military expressed their antipathy towards the church in every possible way, throwing at it everything that comes to hand, including stones, and also disfiguring the eyes of the apostles in the image.

But all this is just a trifle compared to when the authorities made the overwhelming decision to place the prisoners inside the building, according to The New York Times, who, without denying themselves anything, in every possible way scoffed at the work of art.

Closer to modern times, at the beginning of the 19th century, people who wanted to restore this masterpiece and had only good intentions almost damaged it and pulled it apart.

Perhaps the saddest event is what happened on August 15, 1943, when the Allied forces bombed the refectory. Atlas Obscura reported that the defensive structure had been installed in advance. While the rest of the church was largely destroyed, the painting itself was thankfully saved.

Many people believe that da Vinci was an incredible genius who could handle everything. However, even the most talented people have a series of failures and the lion's share of disappointments.

When da Vinci was forty-two, the year was 1494. At the same time, he was mocked by his brothers in the workshop, artists and simply creative people, who believed that this great master of his era managed to lose his potential.

According to Ross, the artist was unable to complete a number of assignments, and as a result, many people found him unreliable. One of the poets even laughed, accusing da Vinci of being mediocrity, because he hardly managed to write just one canvas in ten whole years. Leonardo desperately wanted to create what he called "a work of glory" - something that would make him famous to posterity. In the end, he got his way with the Last Supper.

During the creation of his masterpiece, da Vinci managed to hide several of his previous works on the canvas. For example, one of the figures of the apostles, according to art historians, is a copy of the artist's previous work. He borrowed the image of Jacob the Great from himself:.

Over the years, some have argued that the figure to the right of Jesus is actually Mary Magdalene and not Saint John, but Ross refutes this assumption. And if you believe his version, then Saint John, the youngest apostle and beloved disciple, was always depicted next to Christ, and it was there that Leonardo placed him.

Ionna has also always been portrayed as young, beardless and often androgynous. Leonardo adhered to this type of image, because the androgynous young man was a personal ideal for him, the one whom he could call the crown of the creation of nature, and whose image was constantly repeated in his work.

In addition, according to art critics, the image of Mary was also often used even outside of this picture. For example, one of the artists named Fra Beato Angelico created a fresco that was housed in a monastery in Florence. There, on the wall of San Marco, he demonstrates how Mary Magdalena passes the sacrament ceremony with the apostles. This means that the fact that a little later she could appear on the canvas "The Last Supper" is not something out of the ordinary, contradictory or suspicious. However, she is not there.

Most scholars and art critics reject the theory that mysterious messages may be hidden in paintings from the Renaissance. The Last Supper was not an exception. Not once amenable to close study and attention, this work to this day arouses genuine interest, giving rise to a lot of different versions about the people depicted on it.

One of the assumptions is that there are many things in the picture that, after five hundred years, are difficult to logic and evaluate. For example, the hand gestures made by the apostles. Each of them may have a certain meaning, which, unfortunately, is lost to us or is interpreted as convenient for someone. However, it's important to remember not to take Dan Brown's conspiracy theories and novels too seriously., says King.

It is possible not to attach special meaning to the symbols that are hidden from our gaze, but one cannot fail to mention that the picture is replete with very intriguing details.

One of the scholars noted that the tapestries that adorn the walls are very similar to those that were present in the Milan castle. Moreover, the apostles are portraits of the close circle and people entering the court, with whom da Vinci himself might have known.

So in many ways, the painting, among other things, represents the courtyard of Lodovico Sforza, the patron saint of this work.

Another interesting point is that the bread and wine shared in the picture have a special spiritual meaning for people of the Christian faith.

However, the artist did not stop there and provided his wards with additional food, which for a modern person and a lover of food may seem very extravagant. We are talking, of course, about juicy slices of eel, topped with an orange garnish.

Ross said.

After ups and downs, da Vinci finally achieved the fame he wanted in his own life with this work of art, which to this day is considered one of the most controversial and mysterious masterpieces in the world. And apparently, disputes, opinions and various guesses and assumptions will accompany this amazing work for many years to come …

The Last Supper is not the only thing that has been endlessly talked about and argued about for centuries. - another subject of heated debate and claims all over the world.