The Story Behind Leonardo Da Vinci's Painting, The Last Supper

The story of the painting, The Last Supper, is >> > > > > > extremely interesting and instructive. The two >> > > > > > incidents connected with it afford a most convincing >> > > > > > lesson on the effects of right thinking or wrong >> > > > > > thinking in the life of a boy or girl, or of a man >> > > > > > or a woman. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, a >> > > > > > noted Italian artist; and the time engaged for its >> > > > > > completion was seven years. The figures representing >> > > > > > the twelve Apostles and Christ himself were painted >> > > > > > from living persons. The life-model for the painting >> > > > > > of the figure of Jesus was chosen first. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > When it was decided that Da Vinci would paint this >> > > > > > great picture, hundreds and hundreds of young men >> > > > > > were carefully viewed in an endeavor to find a face >> > > > > > and personality exhibiting innocence and beauty, >> > > > > > free from the scars and signs of dissipation caused >> > > > > > by sin. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > Finally, after weeks of laborious searching, a young >> > > > > > man nineteen years of age was selected as a model >> > > > > > for the portrayal of Christ. For six months, Da Vinci >> > > > > > worked on the production of this leading character >> > > > > > of his famous painting. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > During the next six years, Da Vinci continued his >> > > > > > abors on this sublime work of art. One by one >> > > > > > fitting persons were chosen to represent each of the >> > > > > > eleven Apostles; space being left for the painting >> > > > > > of the figure representing Judas Iscariot as the >> > > > > > final task of this masterpiece. This was the >> > > > > > Apostle, you remember, who betrayed his Lord for >> > > > > > thirty pieces of silver, worth in our present day, >> > > > > > currency of $16.96. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > For weeks, Da Vinci searched for a man with a hard >> > > > > > callous face, with a countenance marked by scars of >> > > > > > avarice, deceit, hypocrisy, and crime; a face that >> > > > > > would delineate a character who would betray his >> > > > > > best friend. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > After many discouraging experiences in searching for >> > > > > > the type of person required to represent Judas, word >> > > > > > came to Da Vinci that a man whose appearance fully >> > > > > > met his requirements had been found in a dungeon in >> > > > > > Rome, sentenced to die for a life of crime and murder. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > Da Vinci made the trip to Rome at once, and this man >> > > > > > was brought out from his imprisonment in the dungeon >> > > > > > and led out into the light of the sun. There Da Vinci >> > > > > > saw before him a dark, swarthy man; his long, >> > > > > > shaggy and unkempt hair sprawled over his face, >> > > > > > which betrayed a character of viciousness and >> > > > > > complete ruin. At last, the famous painter had found >> > > > > > the person he wanted to represent the character of >> > > > > > Judas in his painting. >> > > > > > >> > > > > > By special permission from the king, this prisoner >> > > > > > was carried to Milan where the picture was being >> > > > > > painted; and for months he sat before Da Vinci at >> > > > > > appointed hours each day as the gifted artist >> > > > > > diligently continued his task of transmitting to his >> > > > > > painting this base character in the picture >> > > > > > representing the traitor and betrayer of our savior. >> > > > > > As he finished his last stroke, he turned to the >> > > > > > guards and said, "I have finished. You may take the >> > > > > > prisoner away." >> > > > > > >> > > > > > As the guards were leading their prisoner away, he >> > > > > > suddenly broke loose from their control and rushed >> > > > > > up to Da Vinci, crying as he did so, "O, Da Vinci, >> > > > > > look at me! Do you not know who I am?" >> > > > > > >> > > > > > Da Vinci, with the trained eyes of a great character >> > > > > > student, carefully scrutinized the man upon whose >> > > > > > face he had constantly gazed for six months and >> > > > > > replied, "No, I have never seen you in my life until >> > > > > > you were brought before me out of the dungeon in >> > > > > > Rome." >> > > > > > >> > > > > > Then, lifting his eyes toward heaven, the prisoner >> > > > > > said, "Oh, God, have I fallen so low?" Then turning >> > > > > > his face to the painter he cried, "Leonardo Da >> > > > > > Vinci! Look at me again for I am the same man you >> > > > > > painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ." >> > > > > > >> > > > > > This is the true story of the painting of The Last Supper >> > > > > > that teaches so strongly the lesson of the effects of right >> > > > > > or wrong thinking on the life of an individual. Here was >> > > > > > a young man whose character was so pure, unspoiled by >> > > > > > the sins of the world that he presented a countenance of >> > > > > > innocence and beauty fit to be used for the painting of a >> > > > > > representation of Christ. But within seven years, following >> > > > > > the thoughts of sin and a life of crime, he was changed >> > > > > > into a perfect picture of the most traitorous character ever >> > > > > > known in the history of the world.

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