If you try to recall the masterpieces of painting that were copied countless times, then one of the first in this series will be the fresco "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. Written for two years, from 1495 to 1497, already in the Renaissance, it received about 20 “heirs” of the same subject, written by masters of the brush of Spain, France and Germany.
I must say that before Leonardo, some Florentine artists have already used this plot in their work. Unfortunately, only the works of Giotto and Ghirlandaio became known to modern art critics.
Leonardo da Vinci in Milan
Lovers of painting, and especially the work of Leonardo da Vinci, have long known the location of the world-famous fresco. But many lovers still wonder about where the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci is located. The answer to it will lead us to Milan.
The creative period dating back to the time of work in Milan, like the artist’s entire life, is covered in secrets and has been covered with many legends for hundreds of years.
Leonardo da Vinci, known as a lover of puzzles, puzzles and secret ciphers, left behind a huge number of puzzles, some of which still have not succumbed to the clues of scientists around the world. It may seem that both the life and work of the artist is a complete secret.
Leonardo and Ludovico Sforza
Leonardo's appearance in Milan is directly related to the name of Ludovico Maria Sforza, nicknamed Moreau. The powerful ruler and talented leader in many areas, the Duke of Moreau wrote in 1484 for the service of Leonardo da Vinci, who had already become famous by this time. The artist's paintings and engineering talent attracted the attention of a visionary politician. He planned to use the young Leonardo as a hydraulic engineer, civil engineering designer and military equipment designer. And he was not mistaken. The young engineer did not cease to amaze Moreau with his inventions. Such technical developments as new models of guns and light weapons, the unthinkable at that time bridge construction and mobile carts for military needs, invulnerable and impregnable, were proposed to the duke's court.
Milan. Temple of Santa Maria delle Grazie
By the time Leonardo appeared in Milan, the construction of the Dominican monastery was already underway. Having become the main architectural focus of the monastery complex, the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was completed under the direction of Donato Bramante, an Italian architect already known at that time.
The Duke of Sforza planned to expand the area of ​​the temple and place here the tomb of his great family. Leonardo da Vinci was brought to work on the biblical story “The Last Supper” in 1495. The place for the mural was identified in the refectory of the temple.
Where to see the Last Supper?
To make it easier to understand where the "Last Supper" of Leonardo da Vinci is located, you need to face the temple from Corso Magenta and look towards the left side, the annex. Today it is a completely renovated building. But World War II did not stint destruction. Eyewitnesses said that after the air raids the temple was almost completely destroyed, and the fact that the fresco remained intact was called a miracle.
Today, millions of art lovers seek the place where the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is located. Getting here is not so easy. In the tourist season, you need to book a place in the excursion group in advance. And in order to preserve the masterpiece, visitors are allowed into the hall in small groups, and the inspection time is limited to 15 minutes.
Long and painstaking work on the mural
Work on the mural was progressing slowly. The artist worked erratically, however, like all geniuses. It didn’t come off the brush for several days, or, on the contrary, didn’t touch it for days. Sometimes, in broad daylight, he would drop everything and run to his job to make only one brush stroke. Art critics find several explanations for this. Firstly, the artist decided to choose a new type of painting for work - not with tempera, but with oil paints. This made it possible to constantly supplement and correct images. Secondly, the constant revision of the plot of the meal allowed the artist to once again give associative secrets of the characters of The Last Supper. A description of the comparisons of the apostles with real characters, contemporaries of Leonardo, today can be found in any art history reference book.
Search for prototypes and inspiration
Making daily walks in different quarters of the city, among merchants, poor people and even criminals, the artist peered into faces, trying to find features that could be endowed with his characters. He could be found in a variety of taverns, sitting in the company of the poor and telling them their entertaining stories. He was interested in human emotions. As soon as he caught an interesting expression on his face, he immediately sketched it. History has managed to save some of the preparatory sketches of the artist for posterity.
Leonardo sought inspiration and images for the future masterpiece not only among the people on the streets of Milan, but also among his surroundings. His "employer" Sforza, who appeared in the Last Supper in the guise of Judas, was no exception. Legend says that the reason for this decision was the banal jealousy of the artist, secretly in love with the duke's favorite. Such a choice could be made only by a brave artist. The Last Supper possesses not only secret ciphers of prototypes, but also a unique lighting solution.
The picturesque light falling from the painted windows becomes truly realistic in combination with the natural lighting of the fresco from the window located on the adjoining wall. But today this effect is not necessary to observe, since the window on the wall is completely darkened in order to preserve the masterpiece.
The influence of time and the preservation of a masterpiece
Time quickly proved the wrong choice of painting technique. It took only two years for the artist to see his work greatly changed. Painting with oil paints was short-lived. Leonardo da Vinci begins the first restoration of the fresco, but only after 10 years. He involved in the restoration work and his students.
For 350 years, the place where the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci is located has undergone many changes and alterations. An additional door, cut through the refectory by the monks in 1600, severely damaged the fresco, and by the 20th century the feet of Jesus were completely worn out.
Before the Second World War, the fresco was restored eight times. With each restoration work, new layers of paint were applied, and gradually the original was greatly distorted. Difficult work lay before art historians to determine the initial idea of ​​Leonardo da Vinci. Paintings, drawings, anatomical records of the artist are stored in many museums in the world, but Milan is rightfully considered the owner of the only fully finished large-scale work of the artist.
Titanic work of modern restorers
In the XX century, the restoration of the Last Supper was carried out using modern technology. Gradually, layer by layer, restoration artists removed centuries-old dust and mold from a masterpiece.
Unfortunately, today it is recognized that only 2/3 of the original fresco remains, and half of the paints used by the artist initially were irretrievably lost. To prevent further destruction of the fresco, uniform humidity and temperature are maintained today in the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
The last restoration work was carried out for 21 years. In May 1999, the world again saw the creation of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper." Milan on the occasion of the opening of the mural for the audience staged a grand celebration.