The Last Supper
 

From the Assocated Press:
And the painting in detail:
DaVinci's Last Supper

I find the fascination with DaVinci to almost equal that of celebrities. I've been reading all kinds of theories behind his work, ie; The Mona Lisa was a 'self-portrait'. A technology expert from AT&T a few years back matched markers in DaVinci's self portrait and the Mona Lisa, declaring he had to have used his own face for the painting. "The Last Supper" has been scrutinized since before the restoration on it began.
Was the man a master? Probably, but no more so than Rembrandt, IMHO, whose work doesn't get this kind of research. Did the book, "The DaVinci Code" feed this fascination? I believe so.
One of the reasons I did not pursue art in earnest fresh out of high school was that Art History was a required subject the first two years. Learning about the art movements and styles is one thing, but delving into the artists themselves seems to me a waste still today. Preserve masterpieces, etc., but art, to me, is for art's sake, not science's.
Having said that, that mega-sized file is pretty cool to look at.

Da Vinci's is amazing not just from his art but his over all works. I'm far more impressed with his inventions than anything else.

If there was one person in history I could talk to, he would be on the short list for sure.

Pretty cool picture but the site is painfully slow.

Guy was truly touched by something not too many of us get these days.

I would have to agree about his inventions-to illustrate a prototype for a helicopter centuries before it's realized is astounding. Perhaps all this research into his art is because of his inventions? *shrugs*

Most likely. Da Vinci was a great mind, perhaps one of the greatest. His art I think just serves as a more visible reminder.

Everybody that wants there picture taken get on this side of the table...

Who's the guy in the middle?

It's an interesting painting, and the quality is undeniable.

that song is freaking annoying

Given what other artists were producing at the time DaVinci produced his greatest works, DaVinci is a true master. No doubt about it. He is one of the greatest minds to have walked this earth.

There is a reason why my town is host to a DaVinci Days Festival, where art, science, and technology combine. It's fabulous fun in the middle of summer, especially the kinetic sculpture races. It's also a great honor to the mind that spawned so many great ideas and images for us to enjoy.

There was a time when the arts and sciences weren't really looked at as opposing forces. I think a lot of artists are afraid of getting too intellectual and analytical about their work and this feeds the division.

I don't really know much about DaVinci, but I think it's important to apply technology to the understanding of the arts, and as many here will attest, to the creation of the arts. I listened to a really cool CBC show with a lecture about how visual artists back in the day used to know how to make their own paints or at least knew the composition. Today, we buy paints at a store, and while we have access to a great many colours, there can be something missing by not being so in tune with your materials.

As for thinking Rembrandt is more deserving of notoriety, dawg, I think anyone who knows anything about their field has strong opinions of who gets the short end of the popularity stick. And Hollywood is usually responsible for perpetuating the hierarchy of "genius."

In my dealings with artists across the country, most..probably all but one...are more into the aesthetics of their craft. The one exception is an artist friend in California who teaches college anatomy as it pertains to drawing the human body. Part of his courses involves 'escorche', where students must build a scaled down human from the skeleton outward.
I will say, though, that the artists I've met and befriended through the years are among the most intelligent people I've known, but, like any other profession or craft, there are flakes and there are geniuses.
DaVinci, inarguably, was a genius...I just somehow feel the scrutiny applied to his art is imbalanced against his innovations and notes and wonder if somehow the researchers feel they can figure out his mental process by scrutinizing his paintings or what they're trying to find.
I mention Rembrandt as a form of reference-his work is genius, but I don't know that he was an innovator or inventor outside of his artistry. Personally, I'm a Vermeer fan.

It's also said that people like da vinci, beethoven, einstein, and many others who are now looked on today as geniuses/brilliant minds, had aspergers autism.

Just a little note for those who may not have heard but also enjoy da vinci as I do.

I haven't taken a good look at the painting in years, and I never realized how badly damaged it was. Imagine what it would have looked like before it was vandalized and underwent all those attempts at restoration.

Based on the broad interests of Da Vinci and Einstein, I don't think either had asperger's syndrome.

The painting aside, I'm astounded at the detail of the digital imagery. Especially since I don't know if I'll ever get to Milan. There is so much to Da Vinci that interests me, I really should read more about him.

The "guy" to the left of Jesus? :)


This is a great find, nwdawg.

My wife and I visited Milan years ago and saw the painting. It was/is in really bad shape. He tried something new, painting directly on wet plaster or something and it flakes off easily.

I remember when we visited, the little church it is in is out of the way and somewhat plain. We just walked in and went right up to the painting where they had a couple of restorers working on scaffolds. I thought they should have had it well guarded or something.

From what I recall he invented his own paint to try to do it.

The book was published in 2003. Da Vinci died in 1519, I'm sure the book is the reason why people are interested in him.

I said 'feed it'...the fascination itself has always been there and I suspect always will. But things, other than the continuing restoration of The Last Supper, have been pretty quiet regarding DaVinci; the heightened interest in the past 4-5 years with both that work and the renewed speculations about the Mona Lisa, as well as a few other paintings of his, can probably be partially blamed on the book and all the hype that followed it.

Whoa. Jesus has TWO glasses of wine. Or he is about to take that chics.