** The Last Supper ** by Leonardo Da Vinci

I've lately read the book "The Da Vinci Code" and I do love it... hmmm... besides that, "The Last Supper" painting was mentioned in the book as an important key leading to many things happening in the story. My commentary today is not about art or something like that in this painting, it's all about the true and real meaning of "The Last Supper". I know I still need to depend on some studies to prove my commentary but it's true that I do love this painting and all anecdotes about it. Hmmm... I'm not supporter of God or Jesus, I'm a Buddhist ^^, but I do like all the placements as well as the metaphors behind each that Leonardo tried to depict. So plz forgive me if something I try to clarify is somehow wrong and sounds silly, huh? ^^

Background of the painting:
"THE LAST SUPPER" was created in Milan by Leonardo Da Vinci for a request from his sponsor Duke Lodovico Sforza. It, whose Italian name is Il Cenacolo or L'Ultima Cena, belongs to the type of mural painting in the 15th century which is a type of painting on a wall, ceiling or other permanent surfaces. It depicts the very final days of Jesus when he announced that he knew one of 12 his apostles betrayed him.

Compositon and meaning:
It measures 460 × 880 cm (15 feet × 29 feet). It was begun to paint from 1495 and finished in 1498, but he didnt spend all the time to draw it. This painting represents 12 different reactions of 12 apostles when Jesus said that 1 of them would betray him. The reactions vary from surprise, shock and anger. They are, left to right:
1. Bartholomew
2. James Minor
3. Andrew
4. Peter (also called Simon Peter)
5. Judas Iscariot
6. John / Mary Magdalene
7. Jesus
8. Thomas
9. James Major
10. Philip
11. Matthew
12. Thaddeus
13. Simon the Canaanite (also Simon the Zealot)

- It's easily seen that Andrew had his hands straight up... so was it because of Jesus' statement, or was it because of the knife pointed at him? And his eyes were very clearly looking at Judas's back since a knife occured directly out of his back. That was a point showing Judas's betrayal.
- Many people believes in this painting Leonardo drew that Peter was holding a knife in his right hand. In the storyline, Peter knew something bad and dangerous happenning to Jesus and he had prepared to defend Jesus with this knife. He tried to warn John/ Mary about this danger and he/she just listened to it calmly and silently. Some studies believed that that action of Peter was threatening Mary, but in my opinion, he just tried to ask something of Jesus from Mary but she didn't want to answer.
- Thomas was pointing up at the ceiling or the sky- what was he trying to say? I still wonder about his reaction in front of Jesus. Some other studies found that he would want to indicate the power of God, but they didn't give any reasons about that. :-s
- John was the youngest apostle whose position in this picture was often replaced by Mary Magdalene- a wealthy, loyal and honorable woman as well as the woman that Jesus loved most in his life due to many studies.
- However, most importantly in the picture, Judas was holding a small bag in his right hand with the 30 pieces of silver in it. In the true story, he didn't get this at that time for his betrayal, but Leonardo wanted to emphasize a point that this was Judas who would betray Jesus and lead the cause of the later problems. Hmmm.... and actually you can't see it now, but in some early copies, they show that there was also a spilled salt container near Judas. That meant a sign of broken trust in old traditional customs.

That's a painting of Mary Magdalene drawn by Abraham Janssens

The truth about Holy Grail
That's the truth that Da Vinci and also Dan Brown who wrote "The Da Vinci Code" book wanted to express. One of the main stories of the Holy Grail and many interpretations of The Last Supper emphasize that there was a large golden cup that was passed around for everyone to drink. However, when looking at the table, we just see several normal small cups. Moreover, in "The Da Vinci Code" book, the author also affirms that the Holy Grail isn't a physical and actual thing. It's a metaphor for a pregnant woman. That's Mary Magdalene who would have a baby whose blood belonged to the royal blood of Jesus.

I want to write more about many interesting stuff about this picture but it'd better that I stop here cuz it may make you guys mad at me lolz.... it's surely too long to read but interesting enough to consider ^^

Reference:
The Last Supper, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo) , Wikipedia, viewed on 10th Sep 2006
Mary Magdalene on Jesus's Right, http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/marymagdalene.html , Lisa Shea website, viewed on 10th Sep 2006
Thomas's pointing up, http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/thomaspoint.html , Lisa Shea website, viewed on 10th Sep 2006
The Last Supper, http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/lastsupper.html , Lisa Shea website, viewed on 10th Sep 2006