Book Explores Leonardo da Vinci's Depiction of Eels in The Last Supper

A new publication titled 'Le anguille di Leonardo' by Luigi Ballerini, published by Marsilio in 2025, examines an intriguing aspect of Leonardo da Vinci's famous fresco 'The Last Supper.' The book contains two main sections: a historical-cultural essay investigating why Leonardo included multiple dishes of eels in the painting, despite eels being prohibited by Mosaic dietary laws, and a historical cookbook presenting a chronological series of eel recipes. The article opens with a personal anecdote from the author about serving a traditional Genoese Easter dish called pasqualina to guests including poet Amiri Baraka, who requested to take a portion home. This culinary memory serves as an introduction to the broader exploration of food symbolism in art. The publication analyzes the presence of forbidden foods in religious artwork and provides culinary historical context through its recipe collection.