Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper: Apostles Identified

A piece from TheCollector.com offers an in-depth analysis of the characters and their functions in Leonardo da Vinci's mural, The Last Supper, created between 1495 and 1498 on the wall of the Santa Maria delle Grazie refectory in Milan. Commissioned by Duke Ludovico Sforza, the artwork captures the moment when Christ reveals his impending betrayal. Leonardo employed an innovative secco technique (oil and tempera on dry plaster), which enabled delicate sfumato but led to quick deterioration. The apostles are grouped into sets of three: Bartholomew, James the Less, and Andrew; Peter, John, and Judas Iscariot; Thomas, James the Greater, and Philip; Matthew, Jude Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot. Judas, marked by his silver purse and tipped salt, is the only figure cast in shadow. John is shown fainting, and scholars dismiss the notion that he represents Mary Magdalene. Utilizing linear perspective, the vanishing point aligns with Christ's head, which is intentionally smaller to create depth. The mural has faced challenges from humidity, pollution, and bombing during wartime; visitors now enter in timed groups to mitigate environmental impact. Leonardo's preparatory sketches, including studies of Bartholomew, Peter's arm, Judas, James the Greater, and Philip, are preserved in the Royal Collection Trust. Additionally, a copy of a lost study by Cesare da Sesto depicts Simon the Zealot.