Da Vinci's The Last Supper

[sf49erfan]

In The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown claims that art critics believe that Da Vinci included Mary Magdalene in his Last Supper painting. One of the figures does look extremely feminine.

I don't want to debate The Da Vinci Code, but I'll ask this question. If Leonardo did put Mary in the scene instead of one of "the 12," who did he leave out?

My first thought was that he excluded Judas, but then I realized that the historical record clearly places him at the table.

 

[dvd_holc]

first off...the painting is not historical to the actual cultural settings. Second off, woman were not at the table for this meal.

 

[NeoScribe]

And since we dont even know what the disciples even looked like, how are we supposed to know if one isnt there and mary is? I've looked at the painting and seen the supposed "woman", sure it looks slightly feminen, but so do like two others.

 

[Agape_]

Dang it I hate how Dan Brown has distorted facts and failed to properly do research for this topic. I do not claim to be a master of art history but I can tell you for certain that the painting of the last supper was an ideological representation of the people there. Meaning that they were painted based upon their personalities and there attitudes. Most renaissence painters expressed the personality of the student and novice as a clean shaven and rosy cheeked individual. This personality rightfully belongs to Jogn called the youngest of the disciples and the one seated at Jesus' right during the last supper. Thus that is why many people there are also depicted with beards, not that we have evidence that the disciples even wore beards just that they represented wisdom and experience and had grown a hard edge due to their experience. There was no Mary Magdelene at the last supper End of discussion

 

[canadiancatholic]

I read somewhere that the figure in question is the apostle John, who was consider to be the handsome one and that's why he's a little more feminine. To distinguish him from the rest by his beauty.

 

[Celticflower]

I read somewhere that the figure in question is the apostle John, who was consider to be the handsome one and that's why he's a little more feminine. To distinguish him from the rest by his beauty.

A recent program debunking the DaVinci code had an art historian who made the point that Leonardo was being true to the style of the times when he Painted the Last Supper. It is John's youth, not his beauty, that accounts for the femine features. If you look at paintings of him contemporary to the Last Supper you will find he is always portrayed this way, as are any young males in paintings of that time.

 

[canadiancatholic]

A recent program debunking the DaVinci code had an art historian who made the point that Leonardo was being true to the style of the times when he Painted the Last Supper. It is John's youth, not his beauty, that accounts for the femine features. If you look at paintings of him contemporary to the Last Supper you will find he is always portrayed this way, as are any young males in paintings of that time.

Yes, you're right. as soon as you said that I remembered that it was his youth. I knew there was a reason for the distinguished look, I just forgot.

 

[Menuet]

all these questions over 1 book. dan must be reeling with pride.and they don't have the right type of icon to show the face I am making.

 

[crumbs2000]

In The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown claims that art critics believe that Da Vinci included Mary Magdalene in his Last Supper painting. One of the figures does look extremely feminine.

I don't want to debate The Da Vinci Code, but I'll ask this question. If Leonardo did put Mary in the scene instead of one of "the 12," who did he leave out?

My first thought was that he excluded Judas, but then I realized that the historical record clearly places him at the table.

That person is a woman IMO, whether he had a family to her, is ??, but I don't see why Mary wouldn't be there. Besides it's the artist interpretation, so I believe he sees her as a significance. I believe Jesus was very close to Mary and that's why there is so much speculation.
http://milano.arounder.com/da_vinci_last_supper/fullscreen.html

 

[NeoScribe]

Mary's never played a role in the Last Supper. the twelve disciples did. She aint there.

 

[dvd_holc]

That person is a woman IMO, whether he had a family to her, is ??, but I don't see why Mary wouldn't be there. Besides it's the artist interpretation, so I believe he sees her as a significance. I believe Jesus was very close to Mary and that's why there is so much speculation.
http://milano.arounder.com/da_vinci_last_supper/fullscreen.html

The last supper was a Seder Meal (Passover Meal). In my opinion, anyone who wants to say anything about who was at that table should look into the actual cultural setting of this meal in the first century. The picture has nothing to do with the actual event other than...there was a meal between Jesus and the twelve.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

I ran across something interesting showing that the original DaVinci Last Supper was very different from the one we see now. The recent 10-year "restoration" changed several things--like removing most of Jesus' beard and amking the "John" figure more feminine. See more at the pdf file here:

http://www.mytempdir.com/666565

 

[NeoScribe]

What I find annoying is that I dont know which disciple is which in the painting.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

What I find annoying is that I dont know which disciple is which in the painting.

Yeah, they probably should all have worn those stick-on, "Hi! I'm . . ." name badges.

 

[rstrahan]

Yeah, they probably should all have worn those stick-on, "Hi! I'm . . ." name badges.

De Vinci's own sketchbook, which was located some 2 centuries ago, identifies each person at the table, including John, the young man shown at the right hand of Jesus. As to feminine features, look at the painting of John the Baptist, also by Leonardo. He is shown with a combination of feminine and male aspects. It was common at the time.

 

[NeoScribe]

So who's the guy on the far left?