The Last Supper By Leonardo Da Vinci

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The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci (Fig. 1) is located in the refectory of the convent building of the church Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It is an 181in x 346in Fresco Secco, meaning that it was done in dry wall rather than in wet plaster as done in True or Buon Fresco . Da Vinci’s technique of executing the mural differed from the traditional way. In order to clearly analyze and verify the medium, nature of the pigments and techniques used, ten samples were taken from the painting . The results, published in 1979, led to the discovery of da Vinci’s peculiar choice of materials and layer structure. The variety of pigments in the tempera (the medium) found in the samples is due, not only as a cause of da Vinci’s techniques but also …show more content…
White led served as a primer in order to seal the stone, as done in wood panel paintings at the time. Because of this, da Vinci was able to easily modify the fresco and give more lighting dynamic. In some areas of the painting, it was discovered that he applied a black color foundation over the white lead. In other areas he mixed white led and tempera and in others he directly applied it onto the primer. The reason for these diverse techniques applied by da Vinci to the mural was to give a maximum color effect in the tempera, such as either enhancing or toning it down and to create light within the painting. Mineral and organic pigments such as azurite, ultramarine, lake, charcoal, and vermillion were added to the egg white-based tempera used in the …show more content…
The technique of chiaroscuro consists on applying a variety of tones with the purpose of creating volume and shape in every object of the painting. From the folding of the fabric of the clothes and tablecloth, to the movement in the hair of every single one of them, this technique of blending tones to create light and shade gives life to the artwork. In the painting, the natural light is coming from the three windows in the background, through which a landscape can be appreciated. This creates background lighting within the painting. In the landscape, the sun is located on the left side of the painting behind a mountain. Given the fact that they were reunited during the evening - for supper, the sun must be located in the West. This means that they are all facing South. It is for that the same reason that light bounces in the right side of the room – the East, and onto the ceiling. In the center of the painting, just where Jesus is portrayed, there is a round light that expands in a soft circular