Story Behind the Last Supper - Essay Example

Story Behind the Last Supper The Last Supper is a mural painting created by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 15th century. The mural painting covers the entire wall with a height of 15 feet and a width of 29 feet. It took seven years for Da Vinci to complete the painting. Da Vinci was hired by the Cuke Ludovico Sfroza to create a paining representing Biblical story of The Last Supper where Jesus shared the last meal with his twelve Apostles and announced that one of them would betray his trust. The twelve Apostles of Jesus seated beside him have varying emotions between horror, anger and shock as Jesus reveals his revelation regarding the betrayal from one of his own before sunrise.

This was the first painting of the Last Supper where the twelve Apostles of Jesus are painted as real people having strong emotions. The Last Supper has been under great scrutiny among the art circles of all times. The brilliance of the painting and the story behind the painting is the main reason behind the interest. One aspect of the painting is the fact that Jesus’ head is placed at the exact centre of the painting and every element within the painting directs the eye of the viewer towards the head.

The painting of the Last Supper has been a point of great controversy, especially after the release of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci code. It is believed that the person sitting on the right of Christ is not the Apostle John as widely believed but rather Mary Magdalene. It is believed that Da Vinci belonging to a secret Masonic society was guarding a secret regarding the truth behind the secret marriage of Magdalene and Christ. Another belief is that Magdalene belonged to the Benjaminite Dynasty and the stories regarding her relationship with Christ were wrong.

Magdalene was therefore robed in the red and purple royal robes as par her status as the member of the Benjaminite Dynasty (Fanthrope and Fathrope, 252). Whatever truth that Da Vinci was trying to reveal or hide in the painting, it has become of the most studied pieces of art history. References Fanthrope, Lionel and Fanthrope, Patricia, Mysteries and secrets of the Masons: the story behind the Masonic Order, Canada: Dundurn Press Ltd., 2006, Print.