Linear perspective is executed to near perfection in Leonardo's "Last Supper."
The system for creating the illusion of space is used in Leonardo's fresco
to integrate both the figures and the architecture into a cohesive, well-organized
whole.
Leonardo's proficient use of linear perspective creates an interior composition
that is balanced and stable. The central vanishing point to which every object conforms
is located behind the head of Christ. Christ in the exact middle of the picture
becomes symbolically significant as does the main opening in the back wall situated
directly behind his head.
The High Renaissance emphasis on the indivdual can be seen in Leonardo's
"type casting" of the apostles. Each apostle has an individual personality that
is expressed through his particular gesture. Christ is merely passive in contrast to
the various movements of suprise and dismay expressed by his followers after receiving
his news of betrayal.
It may be difficult to see the full effect of Leonardo's masterpiece since the
mural itself is in a terrible state of disrepair. Currently undergoing extensive restoration,
the "Last Supper" has been flaking and scaling off the wall almost since the time of
its completion. Unfortunately, Leonardo did not follow traditional fresco painting
techniques but instead used a combination of materials and methods that have made his
masterpiece extremely unstable.
| Historical Overview | Early Renaissance | Masaccio | High Renaissance | Leonardo | Raphael |