Significance Essay: Stylistic Analysis Essay

The Last Supper presents a mural artwork that was painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th Century. The painting was positioned in the refectory that was housed under the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Millan. The Last Supper adopts the typical style that was dominant in the Early Renaissance. The application of ornate forms alongside linear perspectives tend to conflict with the relevance of the event. Currently, there are minimal traces of the original painting due to environmental factors and intentional damage over the years regardless of the restoration attempts. The Last Supper covers the end wall of the refectory and measures 460 by 880 centimeters. The room was not a refectory at the time da Vinci painted it, however, the initiative was part of a remodeling campaign launched by Ludovico Sforza. The painting was classified as the centerpiece of the mausoleum by Sforza. It is important to note that the painting was painted in phases between 1495 and 1498.
The primary goal of the painting was to show the reaction of the apostles when Jesus announced that one of the apostles would betray him. All the twelve apostles has varying reactions to the announcement defined by shock and anger. Parallel to other depictions of the scenario, Leonardo positioned the dinners on one end of the table while ensuring that none of the apostles has the back on the viewer. Most of the prior demonstrations that show Judas on one edge of the table secluding Judas from the rest of the eleven disciples. In contrast, da Vinci positioned Judas at a point where he leaned back to the shadow. Leonardo referred to the Biblical narration of the scenario in the development of the painting. The painting shows the blessings accorded to the bread, which formed the founding timing of the Eucharist sacrament.
The lighting and angels that were employed in the painting cause the audience to be attentive to Jesus that has his head placed at the various vanishing points of the perspective lines. The painting has numerous references to the numeral 3 that is distinct in the Christian belief of the Holy Trinity. For instance, the disciples are grouped in threes, the figure of Jesus illustrates a triangle and there are three distinct windows that were painted behind Jesus. Behind the windows, Leonardo showed a verdant landscape that is usually interpreted as paradise that ca only be arrived at through Christ.
Da Vinci aimed at presenting a greater luminosity in contrast to that offered by traditional fresco. Therefore, he painted The Last Supper on a dry wall in contrast to wet plaster. Leonardo proceeded to seal the wall with two layers of plaster. Also, he employed the panel painting approach where he included an undercoat made of white lead to trigger the audience to focus on the brightness of the tempera and the oil, which formed the final coating. This method was imperative since it assisted Leonardo da Vinci to gradually develop the painting, particularly in the gradual shading and the chiaroscuro, which was crucial in the advancement of the painting. The technique had previously been defined by Cennino Cennini in the 14th Century, however, Leonardo advanced the proposed method through the application of the style in other stages of the painting rather than the final stage alone.