How do you interperet Leonardo DaVinci's 'Last Supper'?

Question

"The Last Supper depicts the final meal that Jesus took with his disciples, when he instituted the communion service. This was a traditional subject for the decoration of convent refectories. The earthly tables of the monks echoed the sacred table of the Gospels; the temporal world met the eternal....

He(DaVinci) chose to represent not Jesus' institution of the Eucharist (although the bread and wine are there in front of him) but the moment when he tells the disciples that one of them will betray him."



This is the coolest painting I have ever seen. There is so much depth in the disciples expressions. What does it all mean to you? Heres a link to the picture(which i suggest blowing up to see all the detail) along with some very interesting commentary. I recommend the 'Serge Bramly on The Last Supper' section : http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/LeonardoLastSupper.htm

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

Leonardo divides the apostles into four groups of three.
There is one of them that stands out, the pretty one next to Jesus with his eyes down. Guessing he has some kind of importance in the picture.

Answer 1

jesus is the sun.
the 12 disciples are 12 constellations or zodiacs or months.
his death and ressurection are the winter solstice (christmas). at the sign of the southern cross. the three wise men are the stars in orion's belt. his birth is announced by the brightest star in the sky, sirius. the beggining of the age of picses. that is the meaning of the two fish and the two fishermen. the "end of the age" is aroud 2150 with the beggining of the age of aquarius.

Answer 2

it's davinci's interprutation and it's a lovely picture for it's time. i don't interprute the picture itself but rather it's depiction of the scriptures when Christ announced He woul dbe betrayed. i can understand davinci's expressions on the people and such - just as i can see the look that Mary would have given her Son at the wedding in Canna when He said it was not yet His time.
i understand davinci used the most common image of Christ at that time but always wondered who he fashioned the others after - relatives, friends who....

BTW the coolest I've every seen thus far is Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel & the Last Judgement.

Answer 3

The Last Supper is one kickass painting! I got to see the original when I was a teen and I was blown away by it!!!! It's warm, it speaks, it's magnificent! If you ever have the chance, head for Milano, It. to see the original. Have you seen any of DaVinci's other works? I'll check out the web site you listed after I post this.

Answer 4

as art, as da vinci's interpretation, it's a magnificent painting...as a representation of the actual last supper, well, that's a different matter altogether...it looks like a bunch of europeans sitting around a table in some villa having a meal...in fact, the last supper probably looked nothing like that-the room is wrong, the table is wrong, the seating is wrong, the physical appearance of Christ and the disciples is almost certainly wrong...it's an artistic interpretation, and must be viewed as such-i enjoy the painting, but that is all it is

Answer 5

Actually, I am intrigued by the interpretations Dan Brown put into The DaVinci Code. I am especially recalling that when the life-size wax works was on display in Santa Cruz, CA, I got the distinct impression that the figure next to Jesus was a woman. And it is interesting that there is no large chalice before Jesus, but only individual cups before each of the people.

Answer 6

I found the painting a lot more interesting after reading "The DaVinci Code. He was an interesting man.

Answer 7

not that i have anything against homosexuality but...
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/JOHNPIC05.jpg

and this is "fabulous"
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/JOHNPIC08.jpg