Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

The Last Supper represents one of art history's most studied works, with extensive documentation of Leonardo's innovative experimental techniques. Rather than using traditional fresco methods, da Vinci applied tempera and oil paint directly to a dry wall, allowing him greater detail and color depth but ultimately contributing to the painting's deterioration over centuries. The work was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, as part of his patronage of the Dominican monastery.

Extensive restoration efforts have revealed much about Leonardo's working methods and the painting's original appearance. The most significant restoration, completed in 1999 after nearly two decades of painstaking work, removed centuries of overpainting and damage to reveal Leonardo's original brushstrokes and color palette. Researchers discovered that Leonardo used mathematical precision in positioning the apostles, organizing them into four groups of three figures each.

Scholars have thoroughly documented the biblical scene depicted: the moment Jesus announces that one of his disciples will betray him, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. The apostles' varied reactions - from shock to confusion to denial - demonstrate Leonardo's mastery of human psychology and expression. While the painting has inspired countless theories about hidden meanings, art historians generally interpret it as a masterful representation of this pivotal biblical moment.

What remains remarkable is Leonardo's revolutionary use of perspective and his ability to convey complex emotions through gesture and expression. The work's deteriorated state continues to pose conservation challenges, with ongoing monitoring required to preserve what remains of the original paint layers for future generations.