The Last Supper ­After Restoration by Leonardo da Vinci

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The Last Supper is a big (181 x 346 inches) fresco painting (a type of Mural painting) on the wall of Church Santa Maria Della Grazie, Milan. It was finished in 1498 by Leonardo da Vinci is still there after going through a world war attack (which destroyed the surrounding walls of the building) and after many restorations. The represented painting the one after the latest restoration in 1991. Though, being around 500 years old, the cracks on the walls are clearly visible which got more opened up by the WWII bombings.

It is easily the most known mural of the world. It depicts “The Last Supper” took by Jesus and his twelve apostles. The final moment when Jesus revealed that one of his apostles would betray him (Judas Iscariot) and another would deny knowing him for three times before the first ray of next morning (Peter). Both predictions became true at the exact time by the said persons.

But, Jesus didn’t have any bad feelings for them or anyone else in the world. He broke the bread and gave to all of them saying that they all should love each other. That was the core massage by Jesus to his apostles at the end of the supper.

Leonardo has illustrated that vital incident of Jesus life with much simpler approach than the other artist who tried to illustrate the incident on canvas or walls. Instead of filling the scene with too many  things and clues, he chose to keep it clear-cut. The powerful aspect of his painting is the fine use of perspectives. Using real-world perspectives in paintings was relatively new thing at the time and Leonardo was first of the lot who successfully applied it in their works.

Well, the mural is not only known for its artistic quality. Similar, to Leonardo’s many other works, The Last Supper has also tangled into the web of speculations and controversies. Umpteen theories have occurred telling different things about different parts of the The Last Supper. To prove their theories, people even have distorted images to weird angles, superimposed the painting with its mirror image (which was difficult for Leonardo) and have played with the historical facts and stories to prove their ideas.

Some of the claims related to painting are that the person on Jesus’s left is no other but Mary Magdalene with whom allegedly Jesus had intimate relations. Though, nothing has been accepted officially. Another claim tells that if the painting is superimposed with its mirror image, a chalice conjures up in front of Jesus which is said to be “The Holy Grail”. Another spectacular affirms that with more detailed superimposition, a woman with a baby and a Templar Knight is perceivable.

All this claims are written books and claimed by people who are not serving in official committees, who have the official rights to declare something important like this. So, nothing has been accepted officially, but they have raised many eyebrows in the world and have helped people sell millions of books and movie rights.

I think, sometimes being famous allures the unwanted fan base which just wants some share of the tremendous popularity of the famous person, picture or anything. Many of Leonardo’s and other artists’ works have become the victims of this fact.

There is no doubt that this is a timeless and invaluable work by “The greatest mind of all time” (I dare to declare him if he has accomplished all the discoveries which is said he has accomplished) and it should be kept secure from attempts of vandalism and air-pollution.