Where is Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" - the famous fresco. Description of the painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci in good

Secrets of Leonardo da Vinci's fresco "The Last Supper"

Leonardo da Vinci- the most mysterious and unstudied personality of past years. Some ascribe to him a gift from God and canonize him as a saint, while others, on the contrary, consider him an atheist who sold his soul to the devil. But the genius of the great Italian is undeniable, since everything that the hand of the great painter and engineer ever touched was instantly filled with hidden meaning. Today we will talk about the famous work "Last Supper" and the many secrets it hides.

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last supper

Location and history of creation

The famous fresco is in the church Santa Maria delle Grazie, located on the square of the same name in Milan. Or rather, on one of the walls of the refectory. According to historians, the artist specifically depicted in the picture exactly the same table and dishes that were in the church at that time. By this he tried to show that Jesus and Judas (good and evil) are much closer to people than they seem.

Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

The painter received an order to paint the work from his patron, the Duke of Milan. Ludovico Sforza in 1495. The ruler was famous for his dissolute life and from a young age was surrounded by young bacchantes. The situation did not change at all because the Duke had a beautiful and modest wife. Beatrice d'Este, who sincerely loved her husband and, due to her meek disposition, could not contradict his way of life. It must be admitted that Ludovico Sforza sincerely revered his wife and was attached to her in his own way. But the dissolute duke felt the true power of love only at the moment of the sudden death of his wife. The man's grief was so great that he did not leave his room for 15 days. And when he left, the first thing he did was order Leonardo da Vinci to paint a fresco, which his late wife had once asked for, and forever stopped all entertainment at court.

Last Supper in the refectory

The work was completed in 1498. Its dimensions were 880 by 460 cm. Many connoisseurs of the artist’s work agreed that “The Last Supper” can best be viewed if you move 9 meters to the side and rise 3.5 meters up. Moreover, there is something to see. Already during the author’s lifetime, the fresco was considered his best work. Although, calling the painting a fresco would be incorrect. The fact is that Leonardo da Vinci wrote the work not on wet plaster, but on dry plaster, in order to be able to edit it several times. To do this, the artist applied a thick layer of egg tempra to the wall, which subsequently did a disservice, beginning to collapse just 20 years after the painting was painted. But more on that later.

Idea of the work

“The Last Supper” depicts the last Easter dinner of Jesus Christ with his disciples and apostles, held in Jerusalem on the eve of his arrest by the Romans. According to scripture, Jesus said during a meal that one of the apostles would betray him. Leonardo da Vinci tried to depict the reaction of each of the students to the prophetic phrase of the Teacher. To do this, he walked around the city, talked to ordinary people, made them laugh, upset them, and encouraged them. And at the same time he observed the emotions on their faces. The author's goal was to depict the famous dinner from a purely human point of view. That is why he depicted everyone present in a row and did not draw a halo above anyone’s head (as other artists liked to do).

Sketch of the Last Supper

Interesting Facts

Now we have reached the most interesting part of the article: the secrets and features hidden in the work of the great author.

Jesus on the Last Supper fresco

1 . According to historians, Leonardo da Vinci had the hardest time writing two characters: Jesus and Judas. The artist tried to make them the embodiment of good and evil, so for a long time he could not find suitable models. One day, an Italian saw a young singer in a church choir - so spiritual and pure that there was no doubt: here he was - the prototype of Jesus for his “Last Supper”. But, despite the fact that the image of the Teacher was painted, Leonardo da Vinci corrected it for a long time, considering it insufficiently perfect.

The last unwritten character in the picture was Judas. The artist spent hours wandering through the worst places, looking for a model to paint among the degraded people. And now, almost 3 years later, he got lucky. An absolutely degenerate guy was lying in a ditch, in a state of severe alcoholic intoxication. The artist ordered him to be brought to the studio. The man could hardly stand on his feet and had no idea where he was. However, after the image of Judas was painted, the drunkard approached the picture and admitted that he had already seen it before. To the author’s bewilderment, the man replied that three years ago he was completely different, led a correct lifestyle and sang in the church choir. It was then that some artist approached him with a proposal to paint Christ from him. Thus, according to historians, Jesus and Judas were based on the same person at different periods of his life. This once again emphasizes the fact that good and evil go so close that sometimes the line between them is imperceptible.

By the way, while working, Leonardo da Vinci was distracted by the abbot of the monastery, who constantly hurried the artist and argued that he should paint a picture for days, and not stand in front of it in thought. One day the painter could not stand it and promised the abbot to write off Judas from him if he did not stop interfering in the creative process.

Jesus and Mary Magdalene

2. The most discussed secret of the fresco is the figure of the disciple located at the right hand of Christ. It is believed that this is none other than Mary Magdalene and her location indicates the fact that she was not Jesus' mistress, as is commonly believed, but his legal wife. This fact is confirmed by the letter “M”, which is formed by the contours of the couple’s bodies. Supposedly it means the word “Matrimonio”, which translated means “marriage”. Some historians argue with this statement and insist that Leonardo da Vinci's signature - the letter "V" - is visible in the painting. The first statement is supported by the mention that Mary Magdalene washed Christ’s feet and dried them with her hair. According to traditions, only a legal wife could do this. Moreover, it is believed that the woman was pregnant at the time of her husband’s execution and subsequently gave birth to a daughter, Sarah, who marked the beginning of the Merovingian dynasty.

3. Some scholars argue that the unusual arrangement of the students in the painting is not accidental. They say that Leonardo da Vinci placed people according to... zodiac signs. According to this legend, Jesus was a Capricorn and his beloved Mary Magdalene was a virgin.

Mary Magdalene

4. It is impossible not to mention the fact that during the bombing during the Second World War, a shell hit the church building, destroying almost everything except the wall on which the fresco was depicted. Although, the people themselves not only did not take care of the work, but also treated it in a truly barbaric manner. In 1500, a flood in the church caused irreparable damage to the painting. But instead of restoring the masterpiece, in 1566 the monks made a door in the wall depicting the Last Supper, which “cut off” the characters’ legs. A little later, the Milanese coat of arms was hung over the Savior’s head. And at the end of the 17th century, the refectory was turned into a stable. The already dilapidated fresco was covered with manure, and the French competed with each other: who would hit the head of one of the apostles with a brick. However, The Last Supper also had fans. The French king Francis I was so impressed by the work that he seriously thought about how to transport it to his home.

Fresco Last Supper

5. No less interesting are the thoughts of historians about the food depicted on the table. For example, near Judas Leonardo da Vinci depicted an overturned salt shaker (which at all times was considered a bad omen), as well as an empty plate. But the biggest point of controversy is still the fish in the picture. Contemporaries still cannot agree on what is painted on the fresco - a herring or an eel. Scientists believe that this ambiguity is not accidental. The artist specifically encrypted the hidden meaning in the painting. The fact is that in Italian “eel” is pronounced “aringa”. We add one more letter, and we get a completely different word - “arringa” (instruction). At the same time, the word "herring" is pronounced in northern Italy as "renga", which means "one who denies religion." For the atheist artist, the second interpretation is closer.

As you can see, in one single picture there are hidden many secrets and innuendoes, which more than one generation has been struggling to uncover. Many of them will remain unsolved. And contemporaries will only have to speculate and repeat the masterpiece of the great Italian in paint, marble, sand, trying to extend the life of the fresco.

"Culturology"

“The Last Supper” is certainly one of the most mysterious works of the brilliant Leonardo da Vinci, with which only his “La Gioconda” can compete in terms of the number of rumors and speculations.

After the publication of the novel “The Da Vinci Code”, the fresco decorating the refectory of the Milan Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Chiesa e Convento Domenicano di Santa Maria delle Grazie) attracted the attention of not only art history researchers, but also lovers of all kinds of conspiracy theories . In today's article, I will try to answer the most popular questions regarding the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

1. WHAT IS THE CORRECT CALL OF LEONARDO’S “THE LAST SUPPER”?

Surprisingly, “The Last Supper” only in the Russian version has this name; in the languages of other countries, the biblical event depicted in Leonardo’s fresco, and the fresco itself has a much less poetic, but very meaningful name, “The Last Supper,” that is, Ultima Cena in Italian or The Last Supper in English. In principle, the name more accurately reflects the essence of what is happening on the wall painting, because before us is not a secret meeting of conspirators, but the last supper of Christ with the apostles. The second name of the fresco in Italian is Il Cenacolo, which simply translates as “the refectory.”

2. HOW DID THE IDEA OF WRITING THE LAST SUPPER ARISE?

Before answering this question, it is necessary to provide some clarity regarding the laws by which the art market lived in the fifteenth century. In fact, there was no free art market at that time; artists and sculptors worked only if they received orders from rich and influential families or from the Vatican. As you know, Leonardo da Vinci began his career in Florence; many believe that he had to leave the city because of accusations of homosexuality, but, in fact, everything was most likely much more prosaic. It’s just that Leonardo had a very strong competitor in Florence - Michelangelo, who enjoyed the enormous favor of Lorenzo de’ Medici the Magnificent and took all the most interesting orders for himself. Leonardo arrived in Milan at the invitation of Ludovico Sforza and remained in Lombardy for 17 years.

In the illustration: Ludovico Sforza and Beatrice d'Este

All these years, da Vinci not only engaged in art, but also designed his famous military vehicles, strong and lightweight bridges and even mills, and was also the artistic director of public events. For example, it was Leonardo da Vinci who organized the wedding of Bianca Maria Sforza (Ludovico’s niece) with Emperor Maximilian I of Innsbruck, and, of course, he also arranged the wedding of Ludovico Sforza himself with the young Beatrice d’Este, one of the most beautiful princesses of the Italian Renaissance. Beatrice d'Este was from wealthy Ferrara, and her younger brother. The princess was well educated, her husband idolized her not only for her amazing beauty, but also for her sharp mind, and, in addition, contemporaries noted that Beatrice was a very energetic person, she took an active part in government affairs and patronized artists.

In the photo: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Chiesa e Convento Domenicano di Santa Maria delle Grazie)

It is believed that the idea to decorate the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie with paintings on the theme of the last supper of Christ with the apostles belongs to her. Beatrice's choice fell on this Dominican monastery for one simple reason - the monastery church was, by the standards of the fifteenth century, a structure that surpassed the imagination of people of that time, so the refectory of the monastery deserved to be decorated by the hand of a master. Unfortunately, Beatrice d'Este herself never saw the Last Supper fresco; she died in childbirth at a very young age, she was only 22 years old.

3. HOW MANY YEARS DID LEONARDO DA VINCI WRITE THE LAST SUPPER?

There is no correct answer to this question; it is generally accepted that work on the painting began in 1495, continued intermittently, and was completed by Leonardo around 1498, that is, the next year after the death of Beatrice d’Este. However, since the archives of the monastery were destroyed, the exact date of the start of work on the fresco is unknown, one can only assume that it could not have begun before 1491, since that year the marriage of Beatrice and Ludovico Sforza took place, and, if one is guided by the few documents that have survived to this day, then, judging by them, the painting was at its final stage already in 1497.

4. IS “THE LAST SUPPER” BY LEONARDO DA VINCI A FRESCO IN THE STRICT UNDERSTANDING OF THIS TERM?

No, in the strict sense it is not. The fact is that this type of painting implies that the artist must paint quickly, that is, work on wet plaster and immediately finish the final piece. For Leonardo, who was very meticulous and did not immediately recognize the work in its entirety, this was completely unacceptable, so da Vinci invented a special primer made from resin, gabs and mastic and wrote “The Last Supper” dry. On the one hand, he was able to make numerous changes to the painting, but on the other hand, it was precisely because of painting on a dry surface that the canvas began to deteriorate very quickly.

5. WHAT MOMENT IS DEPICTED IN LEONARDO’S “THE LAST SUPPER”?

The moment when Christ says that one of the disciples will betray him, the artist focuses on the reaction of the disciples to his words.

6. WHO SIT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF CHRIST: THE APOSTLE JOHN OR MARY MAGDALENE?

There is no definite answer to this question; the rule strictly applies here: whoever believes in what, sees what. Moreover, the current state of “The Last Supper” is very far from how da Vinci’s contemporaries saw the fresco. But, it is worth saying, Leonardo’s contemporaries were not surprised or outraged by the figure on the right hand of Christ. The fact is that in the frescoes on the theme of the “Last Supper” the figure on the right hand of Christ was always very feminine; it is worth looking, for example, at the fresco “The Last Supper” by one of Luini’s sons, which can be seen in the Milan Basilica of St. Maurizio.

In the photo: “The Last Supper” in the Basilica of San Maurizio

Here the figure in the same position again looks very feminine, in a word, one of two things turns out: either all the artists of Milan were in a secret conspiracy and depicted Mary Magdalene at the Last Supper, or it is simply an artistic tradition to depict John as a feminine youth. Decide for yourself.

7. WHAT IS THE INNOVATION OF “THE LAST SUPPER”, WHY IS IT SAID THAT LEONARDO COMPLETELY DEPARTED FROM THE CLASSICAL CANON?

First of all, in realism. The fact is that, when creating his masterpiece, Leonardo decided to deviate from the canons of painting on biblical themes that existed at that time; he wanted to achieve such an effect that the monks dining in the hall would physically feel the presence of the Savior. That is why all household items were copied from those objects that were in use by the monks of the Dominican monastery: the same tables at which Leonardo’s contemporaries ate, the same utensils, the same dishes, yes, what’s there, even the landscape outside the window is reminiscent of the view from the windows refectory as it was in the fifteenth century.

In the photo: mirror image of “The Last Supper”

But that is not all! The fact is that the rays of light on the fresco are a continuation of the real sunlight falling through the windows of the refectory; in many places of the painting there is a golden ratio, and thanks to the fact that Leonardo was able to correctly reproduce the depth of perspective, the fresco after completion of the work was voluminous, that is, in fact, it was made with a 3D effect. Unfortunately, now, this effect can only be seen from one point in the hall, the coordinates of the desired point: 9 meters deep into the hall from the fresco and approximately 3 meters above the current floor level.

8. WHO DID LEONARDO WRITE CHRIST, JUDAS AND OTHER FRESCO CHARACTERS?

All the characters in the fresco were painted from Leonardo’s contemporaries; they say that the artist constantly walked the streets of Milan and looked for suitable types, which even caused the displeasure of the abbot of the monastery, who felt that the artist did not spend enough time at work. As a result, Leonardo informed the abbot that if he did not stop bothering him, then the portrait of Judas would be painted from him. The threat had an effect, and the abbot of the maestro did not interfere anymore. For the image of Judas, the artist could not find a type for a very long time until he met a suitable person on the street of Milan.

Judas on the Last Supper fresco

When Leonardo brought the extra to his studio, it turned out that the same man had posed for da Vinci’s image of Christ a few years earlier, he just sang in the church choir and looked completely different. This is such a cruel irony! In light of this information, the well-known historical anecdote that the man from whom Leonardo painted Judas told everyone that he was depicted at the Last Supper in the image of Christ takes on a completely different meaning.

9. IS THERE A PORTRAIT OF LEONARDO HIMSELF IN THE FRESCO?

There is a theory that the Last Supper also contains a self-portrait of Leonardo; supposedly the artist is present in the fresco in the image of the Apostle Thaddeus - this is the second figure from the right.

The image of the Apostle Thaddeus on the fresco and portraits of Leonardo da Vinci

The truth of this statement is still in question, but an analysis of Leonardo’s portraits clearly demonstrates a strong external resemblance to the image in the fresco.

10. HOW ARE THE “THE LAST SUPPER” AND THE NUMBER 3 CONNECTED?

Another mystery of “The Last Supper” is the constantly repeating number 3: there are three windows on the fresco, the apostles are located in groups of three, even the contours of the figure of Jesus resemble a triangle. And, I must say, this is not at all accidental, because the number 3 constantly appears in the New Testament. It’s not just about the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit, the number 3 also runs through the entire description of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Three wise men brought gifts to the born Jesus in Nazareth, 33 years - the period of Christ's earthly life, also according to the New Testament, the Son of God had to be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40), that is, Jesus was in hell from the evening Friday to Sunday morning, in addition, the Apostle Peter denied Jesus Christ three times before the rooster crowed (by the way, this prediction was also made at the Last Supper), three crosses stood on Calvary, and Christ rose again in the morning on the third day after the crucifixion.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Tickets to attend the Last Vespers must be booked in advance, but rumors that they need to be booked six months in advance are greatly exaggerated. In fact, a month or even three weeks before the intended visit, free tickets for the required dates are usually available. You can order tickets on the website: the cost depends on the season, in winter a visit to the Last Supper costs 8 euros, in summer - 12 euros (prices according to information for 2016). In addition, now near the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie you can often see resellers selling tickets with a markup of 2-3 euros, so if you are lucky, you can get there by accident. Photographing the fresco is prohibited; entry is strictly at the time indicated on the ticket.

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Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]

Artist, scientist, writer, engineer, architect, inventor and humanist, a true Renaissance man, Leonardo near the Italian town of Vinci, in 1452. For almost 20 years (from 1482 to 1499) he “worked” for the Duke of Milan, Louis Sforza. It was during this period of his life that The Last Supper was written. Da Vinci died in 1519 in France, where he was invited by King Francis I.

Innovation of composition

The plot of the painting “The Last Supper” has been used in painting more than once. According to the Gospel, during Jesus' last meal together, "it is true that one of you will betray me." Artists usually depicted the apostles at this moment gathered around a round or square table, but Leonardo wanted to show not only Jesus as the central figure, he wanted to depict the reaction of everyone present to the Master’s phrase. Therefore, he chose a linear composition, allowing all the characters to be depicted from the front or in profile. In traditional icon painting before Leonardo, it was also customary to depict Jesus breaking bread with Judas and John clinging to the chest of Christ. With this composition, the artists tried to emphasize the idea of betrayal and redemption. Da Vinci violated this canon as well.

Canvases depicting the Last Supper were painted in the traditional manner by Giotto, Duccio and Sassetta.

Leonardo makes Jesus Christ the center of the composition. The dominant position of Jesus is emphasized by the empty space around him, the windows behind him, the objects in front of Christ are ordered, while chaos reigns on the table in front of the apostles. The apostles are divided into “threes” by the artist. Bartholomew, Jacob and Andrew are sitting on the left, Andrey raised his hands in a gesture indicating denial. Next come Jude, Peter and John. Judas's face is hidden in the shadows, in his hands is a canvas bag. The femininity of the figure and face of John, who fainted from the news, has led numerous interpreters to suggest that this is Mary Magdalene, and not the apostle. Sitting behind Jesus are Thomas, James and Philip, they are all turned to Jesus and seem to expect clarification from him, the last group is Matthew, Thaddeus and Simon.

The plot of the work “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown is largely based on the similarity of the Apostle John with a woman.

Legend of Judas

In order to accurately paint the emotions that gripped the apostles, Leonardo not only made numerous sketches, but also carefully selected sitters. The painting, measuring 460 by 880 centimeters, was painted over three years, from 1495 to 1498. The first to be painted was the figure of Christ, for which, according to legend, a young singer with a spiritual face posed. Jude was to be written last. For a long time Da Vinci could not find a person whose face would bear the corresponding stamp of vice, until luck smiled at him and he, in one of the prisons, met a fairly young, but degenerate and seemingly extremely depraved man. After he finished painting Judas from him, the sitter asked:
- Master, don’t you remember me? Several years ago you painted Christ from me for this fresco.
Serious art critics refute the veracity of this legend.

Dry plaster and restorations

Before Leonardo da Vinci, all artists painted frescoes on wet plaster. It was important to finish the painting before it dried. Since Leonardo wanted to carefully and painstakingly write out the smallest details, as well as the emotions of the characters, he decided to paint “The Last Supper” on dry plaster. First he covered the wall with a layer of resin and mastic, then with chalk and tempera. The method did not justify itself, although it allowed the artist to work with the degree of detail he needed. Not even a few decades had passed before the paint began to crumble. The first serious damage was written about already in 1517. In 1556, the famous art historian Giorgio Vasari argued that the fresco was hopelessly damaged.

In 1652, the painting was barbarically damaged by monks who made a doorway in the lower center of the fresco. It is only thanks to a copy of the painting previously made by an unknown artist that one can now see not only the original details lost due to the destruction of the plaster, but also the destroyed part. Since the 18th century, numerous attempts have been made to preserve and restore the great work, but all of them did not benefit the painting. A striking example of this is the curtain with which the fresco was closed in 1668. It caused moisture to accumulate on the wall, which caused the paint to peel even more. In the 20th century, all the most modern achievements of science were thrown to the aid of the great creation. From 1978 to 1999, the painting was closed to viewing and restorers worked on it, trying to minimize the damage caused by dirt, time, and the efforts of past “guardians” and stabilize the painting from further destruction. For this purpose, the refectory was sealed as much as possible, and an artificial environment was maintained in it. Since 1999, visitors have been allowed to attend the Last Supper, but only by appointment for no more than 15 minutes.

Number 3

The painting contains repeated references to the number three:

The apostles sit in groups of three;
behind Jesus there are three windows;
the contours of the figure of Christ resemble a triangle.

Figure

The figure of Jesus is positioned and illuminated in such a way that the viewer's attention is drawn primarily to him. The head of Jesus is at a vanishing point for all lines of perspective.

Gesture

Jesus' gesture can be interpreted in two ways. According to the Bible, Jesus predicts that his betrayer will reach out to eat at the same time he does. Judas reaches for the dish, not noticing that Jesus is also extending his right hand to him. At the same time, Jesus points to bread and wine, symbolizing the sinless body and shed blood respectively.

Analysis

The work is believed to depict the moment when Jesus utters the words that one of the apostles will betray him (“and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me”), and the reaction of each of them.

As in other depictions of the Last Supper of the time, Leonardo places those sitting at the table on one side so that the viewer can see their faces. Most previous writings on the subject excluded Judas, placing him alone at the opposite end of the table from where the other eleven apostles and Jesus sat, or depicting all the apostles except Judas with a halo. Judas clutches a small pouch, perhaps representing the silver he received for betraying Jesus, or an allusion to his role among the twelve apostles as treasurer. He was the only one with his elbow on the table. The knife in Peter's hand, pointing away from Christ, perhaps refers the viewer to the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane during the arrest of Christ.

The light illuminating the entire scene does not come from the windows painted behind, but comes from the left, like the real light from the window on the left wall.

In many places in the picture there is a golden ratio; for example, where Jesus and John, who is on his right, put their hands, the canvas is divided in this ratio.

Simon the Canaanite

Information in the Gospels about Simon the Canaanite is extremely scarce. He is mentioned in the lists of the apostles in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 10:4), Mark (Mark 3:18), Luke (Luke 6:15), as well as in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:13). He is called Simon the Zealot or Simon the Zealot to distinguish him from Simon Peter. The New Testament does not provide any other information about the apostle. The nickname Zealot is sometimes interpreted as a commitment to Jewish nationalism (Zealots).

Simon the Canaanite is identified with the half-brother (from Joseph and Salome) of Jesus Christ, who celebrated the wedding in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus turned water into wine. He is identified with Simeon, an apostle of the 70, who became the second bishop of Jerusalem after the execution of James the Righteous.

Apostle Thaddeus

Brother of Jacob Alpheus, son of Alpheus or Cleopas.

Mentioned in the lists of the apostles in the Gospels of Luke (Luke 6:16) and John (John 14:22); and also in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:13). In the Gospel of John, Judas asks Jesus at the Last Supper about his upcoming resurrection. Moreover, he is called “Judas, not Iscariot” to distinguish him from Judas, the traitor. According to legend, the Apostle Jude preached in Palestine, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia, and died a martyr’s death in Armenia in the second half of the 1st century AD. e. The alleged grave is located on the territory of the Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus in northwestern Iran. Part of the relics of the holy apostle resides in the Vatican in St. Peter's Basilica.

Levi Matthew

The only reliable fact reported by the Gospels is that Matthew Levi was a tax collector, that is, a tax collector. In the text of the Gospel of Matthew, the apostle is called “Matthew the Publican,” which perhaps indicates the author’s humility, since publicans were deeply despised by the Jews.

Apostle Philip

Mentioned in the lists of apostles in Matthew (10:3), Mark (3:18), Luke (6:14), and also in the Acts of the Apostles (1:13).

The Gospel of John reports that Philip was from Bethsaida, from the same city as Andrew and Peter, and was called third after them. Philip brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Jesus (John 1:43-46). On the pages of the Gospel of John, Philip appears three more times: he talks with Jesus about bread for the multitude (John 6:5-7); brings Greeks (Hellenized Jews) to Jesus (John 12:20-22); asks Jesus to show the Father at the Last Supper (John 14:8-9).

Mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, Philip the Deacon or Philip the Evangelist is another person, the namesake of the Apostle Philip.

Eusebius of Caesarea cites a report from Clement of Alexandria that Philip was married and had daughters, with whom Papias was also acquainted. Philip preached the Gospel in Scythia and Phrygia. For his preaching activities he was executed (crucified head down) in the year 80 (during the reign of the Roman Emperor Titus in the city of Hierapolis Phrygian, in Asia Minor.

Jacob Zebedee

An apostle of Jesus Christ mentioned in the New Testament. Son of Zebedee, born in Palestine, was killed in 44 in Jerusalem. Elder brother of John the Evangelist.

Apostle Thomas

Thomas was chosen by Christ as one of the twelve apostles, as the evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us. However, they only mention the name of Thomas among the names of the other apostles.

On the contrary, John the Theologian informs us of Thomas's participation in several events in the gospel story, including Thomas's assurance. According to the Gospel of John, Thomas was absent during the first appearance of Jesus Christ to the other apostles after the Resurrection from the dead and, having learned from them that Jesus had risen from the dead and came to them, he said: “If I do not see the wounds of the nails in His hands, I will not put I will not put my finger into the wound of the nails, and I will not put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Appearing to the apostles again, Jesus invited Thomas to put his finger into the wounds, after which Thomas believed and said: “My Lord and my God!”

The Gospel narrative leaves it unclear whether Thomas actually put his finger into Christ's wounds or not. According to some theologians, Thomas refused to do this, while others believe that Thomas touched the wounds of Christ.

The expression “Doubting Thomas” (or “infidel”) has become a common noun and denotes an incredulous listener. The plot of Thomas's assurance has become a popular subject in gospel iconography.

Based on the story of the appearance of Jesus Christ to the apostles on the Sea of Galilee, it can be assumed that the Apostle Thomas was originally a fisherman.

John the Theologian

One of the Twelve Apostles, son of Zebedee, also called the Theologian, evangelist, brother of the Apostle James. In the Gospel of Mark, together with his brother, Jesus is nicknamed “Son of Thunder” (Boanerges).

The Church Fathers considered him to be the same person as John the Evangelist, the "Beloved Disciple", although modern theologians and biblical scholars have no consensus regarding the identity of these people.

According to the tradition of most Christian denominations, the Apostle John is the author of the Gospel, the Book of Revelation and three messages included in the New Testament.

Apostle Peter

Born in Bethsaida in the family of a simple fisherman Jonah. The original name of the apostle was Simon (Hebrew: Shimon). The name Peter (Petrus, from the Greek πέτρος - stone) arose from the nickname Cephas (Aramic - stone), which Jesus gave him. He was married and worked as a fisherman with his brother Andrey. When Jesus met Peter and Andrew, he said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Having become a disciple of Jesus Christ, he accompanied him in all the paths of his earthly life. Peter was one of Jesus' favorite disciples. When Jesus asked his disciples what they thought about Him, Peter said that He was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

By nature, Peter was very lively and hot-tempered: it was he who wanted to walk on water to approach Jesus, and it was he who cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the Garden of Gethsemane. On the night after Jesus was arrested, Peter, as Jesus predicted, showed weakness and, fearing persecution, denied Him three times before the rooster crowed (see also the servant of the doorkeeper). But later Peter sincerely repented and was forgiven by the Lord.

Together with James and John, he was present on Mount Tabor when the transfiguration of Jesus took place.

Judas Iscariot

Among the apostles, Judas was in charge of their money, and then betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver.

After Jesus Christ was sentenced to crucifixion, Judas repented and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the high priests and elders, saying: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said to him: “What is that to us?” And, throwing the pieces of silver in the Temple, Judas went and hanged himself.

After the betrayal and suicide of Judas Iscariot, Jesus' disciples decided to choose a new apostle to replace Judas. They chose two candidates: “Joseph, called Barsaba, who was called Justus, and Matthias,” and after praying to God to indicate whom to make an apostle, they cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered among the Apostles.

The name Judas became a common noun to denote betrayal.

Andrew the First-Called

In the life of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, it is mentioned that Andrew and his brother Simon (the future St. Peter) were Galilean fishermen, born and raised in Bethsaida (a city on the shore of Lake Gennesaret); their father's name was Jonah. Having matured, the brothers moved to Capernaum, where they acquired their own home and continued to fish.

Even in his youth, Andrei decided to devote himself to serving God. Maintaining chastity, he refused to marry. Hearing that on the Jordan River John the Baptist was preaching about the coming of the Messiah and calling for repentance, Andrei left everything and went to him. Soon the young man became John the Baptist's closest disciple.

The evangelists Matthew and John describe Andrew's meeting with Jesus differently.

Saint Andrew is called the First-Called because he was called the first of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Jacob Alfeev

An apostle of Jesus Christ mentioned in the New Testament. Brother of the Apostle Judas Jacob, possibly brother of the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. In the three Gospels his name is given in the list of twelve, but no other information is given about him.

According to his life, Jacob was a publican, preached in Judea, and then, together with the Apostle Andrew, went to Edessa. Afterwards he independently preached in Gaza and Eleutheropolis (Southern Palestine).

Apostle Bartholomew

According to legend, Bartholomew, together with Philip, preached in the cities of Asia Minor, especially in connection with the name of the Apostle Bartholomew, the city of Hierapolis is mentioned. Tradition also reports about his trip to India and preaching in Armenia, where on the Artashat Hill he met with the Apostle Judas Thaddeus (the Armenian Church honors them as its founders). Eusebius of Caesarea reports that in India Bartholomew left the Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew to the community he founded, which was found by the philosopher Panten, a teacher at the School of Alexandria

About the picture

The dimensions of the image are approximately 460x880 cm, it is located in the refectory of the monastery, on the back wall. The theme is traditional for this type of premises. The opposite wall of the refectory is covered with a fresco by another master; Leonardo also put his hand to it.

The painting was commissioned by Leonardo from his patron, Duke Ludovico Sforza and his wife Beatrice d'Este. The lunettes above the painting, formed by a ceiling with three arches, are painted with the Sforza coat of arms. The painting began in 1495 and was completed in 1498; work proceeded intermittently. The date of the start of work is not certain, since "the archives of the monastery were destroyed, and the negligible part of the documents that we have dates back to 1497, when the painting was almost completed."

Three early copies of the painting are known to exist, presumably by Leonardo's assistant.

The painting became a milestone in the history of the Renaissance: the correctly reproduced depth of perspective changed the direction of the development of Western painting.

Even children have heard about Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” This unique work of art is still controversial to this day. The masterpiece of a brilliant artist, even centuries after it was written, never ceases to attract people's attention. This circumstance only once again proves the genius of the author.

The Last Supper is located in Milan, in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The temple is also a historical monument; it was built during the Renaissance. The painting adorns the walls of the refectory in the holy monastery.

Finding the place is easy. The Church of St. Mary is located on the square of the same name in the Italian capital.

Story

Leonardo created this work over several years: from 1495 to 1498. The carefully drawn details of the interior, the features of the images of saints and Christ required long, painstaking work. Reliable facts are known about how the picture was painted and who inspired the idea.

Customer of the famous creation

Important! You will not enter the refectory without a ticket. You should book your ticket well in advance of your planned trip.

A limited number of visitors are allowed. Therefore, there is a high probability that there will be no tickets available during your trip.

When planning excursions in Italy, make sure to visit the amazing fresco site while still at home.

“The Last Supper” never ceases to gather art fans. It also attracts pilgrims. No one else has managed to capture the image of Christ with his disciples so believably and realistically. It still fascinates, makes you stand near it for a long time and come back again and again.

A trip to Milan is not only an amazing opportunity for adult travelers to get acquainted with the work of a master, but also an excellent way to introduce children to the world of beauty.