The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vince | Analysis

The Last Supper is one of the best known works not only of Leonardo da Vinci but of the entire painting.
An exceptional number of writings and studies have been dedicated to this painting because the work not only fascinates for its historical value, representing one of the highest results of Leonardo's research on the figure, but also for the many more or less imaginative meanings that have been attributed to him.
Leonardo decides to represent the Last Supper not at the moment of the institution of the Eucharist but at the moment when Jesus reveals that one of the disciples will betray him.
All those present are lined up on the same side of the table, also a particular choice since often in the iconography of the Last Supper, Judas is isolated from the rest of the disciples and sits on the opposite side of the table. Leonardo instead, just when Jesus declares the presence of a traitor, wants Judas to be placed on the same line as the others. It is possible that this choice is linked to the importance given by the Dominicans to free will. Judas therefore, at the time set by the painting, would still have the space to change his mind.
In the center we find Christ. The famous restoration carried out by Pinin Brambilla and concluded after more than 20 years in 1999, also revealed the precise point, in correspondence with the left temple of Jesus, in which the nail from which all the perspective lines started was driven.
Jesus is in the center and dominates the scene with his arms outstretched on the table, the right hand with the palm facing up and the left hand with the palm facing down. The triangular profile of Jesus is isolated from the light that enters the window behind him. We also note how the figure of him has no contact with the other apostles.
The apostles are placed in groups of three, two groups on the right and two on the left.
The first group we meet on the left is the one formed by Bartolomeo, Giacomo Maggiore and Andrea
Bartholomew is one of the apostles who reacts with more energy to the words of Christ, stands up, holds both hands firmly on the table and throws himself forward with his torso. Giacomo Maggiore, on the other hand, seeks contact and comfort. He puts his right hand on Andrew's shoulder and with his left hand seems to draw the attention of Peter who is the first disciple of the next group. Andrea on his side takes one of the most eloquent poses; he raises his two hands and seems to say "I haven't been".
The next group is the one formed by Peter, Judas and John.
Peter, Andrew's brother, leans over Judas' shoulders and whispers to John to ask Christ who the traitor is.
Pietro holds a knife in his right hand: he holds it with a somewhat anomalous contortion of his right arm that has fueled sometimes imaginative interpretations. I believe that the knife may allude to an evangelical episode shortly after the Last Supper. In fact, Peter will wound Malco, the servant of the high priest Caiaphas with a bladed weapon while he is preparing with other men to arrest Christ.
Giovanni, the youngest and beardless of the twelve, goes to meet Peter with an absorbed and melancholy gaze. Judas on his part seems to withdraw from Christ. We notice how in the fist of his right hand he holds the bag with the thirty denarii tightly. I find interesting the position of the left hand of Judas, open in the claw position, which is almost a mirror image of the left hand of Christ. Between these two, Giovanni instead keeps his hands peacefully folded.
Christ in the center, with his triangular shape against the light of the large window that opens behind him, seems absorbed and detached from everyone.
To the left of him we find the group formed by Giacomo Maggiore, Tommaso and Filippo. James spreads his arms blatantly as a sign of bewilderment, he does not seem to believe the words of his Master, Thomas stretches out behind him towards Christ, he raises a finger to heaven and seems to ask "tell me one thing, who did it". Filippo has instead got up, his face is full of dismay and turns his hands towards himself; he almost seems to say "don't you think it was me?"
The last group on the right is made up of Matteo, Giuda Taddeo and Simone. The three are conversing, they are discussing the meaning of the words just heard. Matthew turned to the other two, stretches his hands towards Christ. The two hands of Judas Thaddeus twist and seem to reflect his state of confusion and incredulity. On his part, Simon seems to point out to his neighbor how it was Christ who uttered those words.
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