Santa Maria delle Grazie and "The Last Supper"
| The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, built between 1463 and 1497, is a prime example of Renaissance architecture. It gained major significance when Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint The Last Supper in its refectory. During World War II, Allied bombings severely damaged the church, but da Vinci’s masterpiece survived. In 1980, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its artistic and historical importance, particularly as a monument to Renaissance culture and human creativity. It was only the second site in Italy (after the rock carvings in Val Camonica) to obtain such recognition. In the image below, the light color building to the left has the entrance (under the three flags—Italian, EU, and UN) to the refectory where The Last Supper is on its north wall. |
Inside the Refectory (Viewer Facing West)
| The refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, built between 1467 and 1488, is famous for housing Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. The room, measuring 35.5 meters in length and without columns, features decorative frescoes but suffered significant damage during World War II. Today, only the walls with The Last Supper (right side on the north wall) and The Crucifixion by Donato Montorfano (left side on the south wall) remain. |
| Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, painted between 1495-1498, is one of the world's most famous religious artworks. It depicts Jesus's last meal with his apostles when he announces his betrayal. The mural is renowned for its innovative composition, emotional depth, and technical experimentation. Despite centuries of deterioration and restoration efforts, it remains a masterpiece of Renaissance art and a cultural icon. |
| Leonardo da Vinci used innovative techniques for The Last Supper, opting for tempera and oil on dry plaster instead of traditional fresco methods. This allowed him to work more slowly and add intricate details, though it led to rapid deterioration. In contrast, Montorfano's Crucifixion below, painted around the same time using traditional fresco, is much better preserved. Leonardo's experimental approach, particularly his dramatic use of perspective and light, created emotional depth and realism, revolutionizing Renaissance painting. |
South Wall: Donato Montorfano, "Crucifixion"
| The Crucifixion by Donato Montorfano, painted in 1495, is located on the south wall of the refectory at Santa Maria delle Grazie, opposite Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. This fresco is significant for its detailed depiction of Christ's crucifixion. While overshadowed by Leonardo’s work, Montorfano's fresco holds historical importance for its representation of the religious devotion of the time. On the cross above Jesus' head appears "I.N.R.I.", an acronym that stands for the Latin phrase "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum," meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," which is a common feature in Christian iconography. |
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