The Last Supper

“The Last Supper” is a fresco painting created by Leonardo da Vinci from 1495 to 1498. It is a portrayal of the reactions of his apostles when Christ said to them “One of you will betray me.” There have been other depictions of this moment in Christ’s life, but none so original as da Vinci’s. He uses compositional features in this work to create a new perspective and interpretation of the scene that, in my opinion, may just be the best one. Geometry was often used in art by the Ancient Greeks when portraying religious scenes or influences because it would allow for a sense of heavenly perfection. This technique was taken up by Renaissance artists due to their interest in Neoplatonism which brought together Greek philosophy and Christian theology. In da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”, Christ’s body is very balanced, forming what looks to be an
His work is reflective of that of the Early Renaissance and even just the layout of his scene is very different from da Vinci’s. In Castagno’s painting, the table is very even distributed, there is enough room for Christ and his apostles to be seated comfortably. Judas, the one who would betray Christ, is seated on the opposite side of the table as the others, thus symbolizing his indifference and the future crime against Christ he would commit. Lastly, the scene is very decorated in a way that may distract from the spiritual event taking place. Da Vinci, on the other hand, has simplified the décor and architecture in a way that eradicates any unnecessary details that would distract from the spirituality. He places all the apostles and Christ on the same side of the table, using the table as a barrier to separate the viewer on Earth from the spiritual domain where the scene is taking place. His emphasis on spirituality gains the painting a more naturalistic result than the other painting by