Completion of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper
- When
- 1498
- Where
- Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
- Episodes
- 1
Leonardo da Vinci completed The Last Supper on the refectory wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan in 1498. The mural, executed in tempera rather than fresco, depicts the moment Jesus announces a betrayal. It began deteriorating shortly after completion due to the unconventional medium.
Episodes
Background and detail
Execution and Technique. Leonardo worked on the mural from about 1495 to 1498, though not continuously. A document from 1497 indicates the work was nearly complete. Instead of traditional fresco, he used tempera, a medium typically for panel painting, which covered the end wall of the dining hall.
Completion and Aftermath. The painting was completed on 9 February 1498. Due to the tempera medium, it began to deteriorate soon after completion. In 1499, Louis XII contemplated removing the painting from the wall to take it to France.
People involved
- Leonardo da Vinci · Artist
Sources
- The Last Supper (Leonardo) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-26
- Leonardo da Vinci Wikipedia
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