Twelve disciples sat at the table and divided into four groups. Jesus sat in the middle of the table. He spread out his hands and made a sad gesture, indicating that some of his disciples had betrayed him.
Most disciples jumped up with excitement, but the image of Jesus was so calm. We can see his clear outline against the window of the background wall. Through the window, we can see the quiet scenery. The blue sky is like a light wheel over Jesus.
In the group to the right of Jesus, we saw a dark face, leaning back, as if avoiding Jesus. He rested his elbow on the dining table and held a wallet in his hand. We know that he is Judas the traitor.
The purse in Judas' hand is his symbol, reminding us that he is the one who keeps money for Jesus and other disciples. The wallet contains the reward of selling Jesus' thirty silver coins.
Even if he doesn't have a wallet, we can identify the evil enemy Judas through Leonardo da Vinci's paintings.
Next to the silhouette of Judas is St. Peter, and we can also see his silvery white head and white hands. He leans towards young St. John. Peter held a knife hanging from his hip in his right hand, as if by accident, and the tip of the knife pointed at Judas' back.
St John's head hangs down to Peter. Of all the disciples, he is Jesus' favorite. John is as calm as Jesus, and he has understood his master's words.
On the left of Jesus is little James. He tried to understand the terrible words he heard. He opened his hands and shouted.
Looking over Jacob's shoulder, we saw St. Thomas, the puzzled Thomas, whose suspicious eyes were expressed through his upright fingers.
On the other side of Jacob, St. Philip leaned over Jesus and put his hands on his chest as if to say, "You know my heart, and you know that I would never betray you." "His face was pained by love and loyalty.
The six disciples around Jesus are the center of the story.
Bartholomew and old Jacob leaned over to them. Old Andrew next to them didn't stand up, but he wanted to listen, so he raised his hand and seemed to ask for silence.
There are three disciples left on the right. They are discussing what Jesus said, and their fingers are pointing to the center of the table. Everything they saw happened in this masterpiece, but every time we appreciate it, we will get new meaning from the feelings and character of our disciples.
Appreciation: The Last Supper is the most important story in Christian legends, which is described by almost all religious painters. However, before Leonardo da Vinci painted The Last Supper for the dining hall of Gracie Monastery in Milan, all painters had the same feature when dealing with the artistic image of the picture: Judas was separated from his disciples and painted across the dining table, and was tried in an isolated position. This is because painters can't express people's inner complex feelings, and it is difficult to distinguish good from evil in image. Because Leonardo da Vinci has made in-depth observation and research on people's image and psychology, he can gain insight into the subtle psychological activities of characters from their movements, gestures and expressions and show them.
The painter chose the moment when Jesus learned that he was betrayed by his disciple Judas, and sent his disciple Peter to inform him to have dinner with his disciples on the evening of Yueyue Festival, not for dinner, but to expose the traitor in public. After Jesus sat down, he said extemporaneously, "One of you betrayed me." As soon as this was said, there was a commotion among the disciples present, and everyone responded to this sentence in line with their own personality: some expressed their loyalty to the teacher; Some people are not confused and ask to trace who it is; Some asked their elders, and the whole scene was anxious. The previous painter could not express this complicated scene and the different inner spiritual activities of his disciples. It's just that Finch got different personality images from observing various personalities in real life, so he created different characters in his paintings. The audience can make different psychological analysis of the people in the painting from their own life experiences.
The psychology and modality of the disciples described by the painter can be found in similar models in real life, but it is difficult to draw the image of a traitor. Leonardo da Vinci has stopped writing for a few days in order to create the image of Judas. He often stands in front of the painting and meditates. At that time, Finch was paid on time for painting, but the dean was very angry because he didn't write for the next few days. He planned to deduct Finch's salary. The dean told Finch the idea through the manager, and Finch said the reason for stopping writing. Although the manager can understand, it is not his intention to deduct wages, but the dean's will. At this time, Finch turned to look at the dean and immediately said that he could complete the image of Judas quickly. If he really couldn't find the model of Judas, he painted the head of the dean as Judas, and the manager smiled knowingly. Later, the Grand Duke of Milan came to see Finch's painting. When he saw the dean sitting in Judas' seat, he smiled and said, I also received accusations from monks that he deducted monks' salaries. He's like Judas. Let him sit here forever. The archduke said to Finch, "He was unfair to you, and you got back at him cleverly." Finch used the dean as an example, not out of personal revenge, but because he found that the dean and Judas were greedy for money, which was essentially the same. Therefore, Judas entered Finch's works as a typical example of greed, betrayal and evil.
This magnificent picture hanging on the dining hall wall of Gretchen Temple is neat, balanced and full of changes. From the aspects of perfect conception, compact plot, typical characterization and skillful expression, it can be called the representative of painter's art. It is also one of the best paintings of mankind, and Leonardo da Vinci is famous all over the world because of its appearance.