Top 5 truths behind Leonardo da Vinci's eternal masterpieces

To this day, the painting "The Last Supper" remains one of the most recognized and beloved works of art in history.

The truth behind the painting "The Last Supper"

Along with the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper is da Vinci's most iconic work. With its harmonious composition, complex and mysterious subject matter, and intense emotional expression, it's easy to see why people from all over the world flock to the beautiful Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery in Milan, Italy, to see this treasure.

Created between 1495 and 1948, this work has always been a subject of interest to many people since its completion. Depicting the last meal of Jesus and his disciples before his death, the painting also contains many little-known facts.

Original painting by Leonardo da Vinci

1. The disciples of Jesus

The figure sitting to the left of Jesus is often mistaken for a woman with long hair and fair skin, but it is actually St. John. According to experts, da Vinci may have given him a more feminine and youthful appearance based on Renaissance ideas.

Were Jesus and the traitor Judas modeled by the same person?

There is a secret in the painting that only a few people know: Jesus and the traitor Judas were actually modeled by the same person. Specifically, according to folklore, a member of the church choir was chosen by da Vinci to model for Jesus.

However, as the painting neared completion, da Vinci discovered that he had not found anyone to play the role of Judas, and decided to ask a drunken man on the side of the road. But after the painting was completed, this man confessed that he was the man who had modeled for Jesus for the artist three years earlier.

2. Pointing details

The salt shaker spilled next to Judas signifies trouble.

Another little-noticed detail is the image of the salt shaker lying next to Judas being knocked over. Philosophers believe that this is actually a detail that alludes to trouble and bad omens about to happen, specifically the betrayal of Jesus by one of his apostles.

3. This masterpiece has been painted, counterfeited, and nearly destroyed countless times.

To complete this masterpiece, the Italian artist is said to have had to repaint this painting countless times. Wars throughout history also contributed to the painting's great damage. In 1652, the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery decided to build a door along the wall where the painting hung, forcing it to cut out some details, including Jesus' feet.

4. The place where the painting is located was once used as a stable.

Over the course of several wars, the painting "The Last Supper" suffered the most damage when Napoleon and his troops converted the abbey space into stables when he invaded Milan in the 18th century.

The Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery was once used as a stable.

5. The first three copies of "The Last Supper"

Many experts believe that there were three copies of "The Last Supper" painted by Leonardo da Vinci's assistant. One was painted by Giampietrino, who also directed the restoration of the original, which is now at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The other two copies were painted by Andrea Solari and Cesare da Sesto. These versions of "The Last Supper" are housed in the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Belgium and the Church of Saint Ambrogio in Switzerland.

A copy of "The Last Supper" is housed at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.