Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 9: Renaissance - The Last Supper (1495-1498)

by Leonardo da Vinci

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

In the next four lessons, we move to the 14th-17th centuries and the Renaissance era, a time of philosophical, literary, musical, artistic, and scientific revival across Europe. Renaissance art expanded to incorporate stories from mythology and history. New techniques led to advances in portraying proportion, depth, and three-dimensionality. 'The Last Supper,' painted between 1495-1498 by the ultimate Renaissance artist, Leonardo da Vinci, shows Jesus sharing one last dinner with his Apostles before his death. The painting captures the moment Jesus reveals one Apostle will betray him. From left to right (head-wise), the painting subjects are as follows: Saint Bartholomew, James (son of Alphaeus), Saint Andrew, Judas Iscariot, Saint Simon Peter, John the Apostle, Jesus of Nazareth, Saint Thomas the Doubter, James the Greater, Saint Philip, Saint Matthew, Saint Jude Thaddeus, and Saint Simon the Zealot. The dark haired and bearded betrayer, Judas Iscariot, holds a small bag (perhaps representing his payoff for betraying Jesus) and spills a salt cellar. To the superstitious, spilling salt causes bad luck or presents an evil omen of things to come.

Vocabulary

Renaissance: The 14th century revival of classical art, architecture, literature and learning that originated in Italy and spread throughout Europe over the following two centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci: 'An Italian polymath of the Renaissance whose areas of interest included invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.' [3]
Apostle: One of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to preach and spread the Gospel.
Judas Iscariot: One of the twelve original Biblical Apostles of Jesus, known for his role in Jesus' betrayal to Roman authorities.
Salt Cellar: A small open container holding salt for use in the kitchen or on a dining table.
Symmetry: Exact correspondence on either side of a dividing line, plane, center or axis.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Renaissance
2. Timeline - 14th century to the 17th century

Renaissance Movement Characteristics:

1. Better Use of Proportion: For example, objects farther away are painted smaller. ('Saint George and the Dragon' by Raphael between 1504-1506)

2. Foreshortening: Shortening lines to enhance perception of depth. Note how the subjects seem to reach out at the viewer. ('The Supper at Emmaus' by Caravaggio in 1601)

3. Sfumato: Gradual blending of tones to enhance three-dimensionality. See the shading of the face, especially around the eyes. (Detail of 'Mona Lisa' by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1503–06)

4. Chiaroscuro: Contrasting light and dark to enhance perception of depth. ('Sacred and Profane Love' by Giovanni Baglione between 1602-1603)

Renaissance Movement Subjects:

1. Biblical Subjects Still Common ('The Creation of Adam' by Michelangelo between 1487-1564)

2. Secular Mythology ('Bacchus and Ariadne' by Titian circa 1520-1523)

3. Secular History ('The Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila' by Raphael in 1514)

Renaissance Architecture:

1. Emphasizes symmetry, proportion, and geometry. (St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy built between 1506-1626)

2. Columns (St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy built between 1506-1626)

3. Pilasters: Decorative columns giving the appearance of supports or pillars.

4. Lintels: Horizontal structural beams spanning the tops of openings between two vertical supports.

5. Domes (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower in Florence, Italy, consecrated in 1436)

6. Niches (Uffizi Palace, Florence circa 1560-81, containing statue of Farinata degli Uberti)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in an artist's copy of the artwork:

• Saint Bartholomew
• James (son of Alphaeus)
• Saint Andrew
• Judas Iscariot
• Saint Simon Peter
• John the Apostle
• Jesus of Nazareth
• Saint Thomas the Doubter
• James the Greater
• Saint Philip
• Saint Matthew
• Saint Jude Thaddeus
• Saint Simon the Zealot
• The Apostle Who Betrayed Jesus

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Study the Location of the Artwork

• 'The Last Supper' covers a wall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie (St. Mary the Gracious) in Milan, Italy.
• Study an 1890s photo of Santa Maria delle Grazie and describe its features and surroundings in your own words.

Activity 4: Map the Artwork

Zoom in to find the city of Milan in Italy.

Activity 5: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Renaissance art movement.
• Find the Renaissance art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Renaissance art movement flourish?
• Which art movement preceded the Renaissance art movement?
• Which art movement followed the Renaissance art movement?

Activity 6: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 12 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The characters are Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples from the Bible.

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The setting features a dining room with a table.

2 / 6

Question 3

What is happening in the artwork?

3 / 6

Answer 3

Jesus of Nazareth shares one last dinner with his Apostles before his death. The painting captures the moment after Jesus reveals one Apostle will betray him.

3 / 6

Question 4

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

4 / 6

Answer 4

This painting belongs to the Renaissance art movement.

4 / 6

Question 5

Which subjects are very commonly featured in Renaissance art?

5 / 6

Answer 5

Biblical subjects, secular mythology, and secular history were common in Renaissance art.

5 / 6

Question 6

During which century was this artwork created?

6 / 6

Answer 6

Leonardo da Vinci created this artwork in the 15th century.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples from the Bible.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting features a dining room with a table.
3. What is happening in the artwork? Jesus of Nazareth shares one last dinner with his Apostles before his death. The painting captures the moment after Jesus reveals one Apostle will betray him.
4. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Renaissance art movement.
5. Which subjects are very commonly featured in Renaissance art? Biblical subjects, secular mythology, and secular history were common in Renaissance art.
6. During which century was this artwork created? Leonardo da Vinci created this artwork in the 15th century.

References

'Renaissance Art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Renaissance Architecture.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Leonardo da Vinci.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Last Supper (Leonardo).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.