Now Fade Away

Recently I have been watching a lecture series about Leonardo da Vinci, his paintings, his sculptures, his drawings, his fresco work. The man had a curiosity for everything. He was an artist and an engineer in his view of the world. He wanted not only to render the beautiful, but know everything about how things worked.

This morning the lecture subject was The Last Supper, a mural fresco painting that Leonardo created in the late 15th Century, from 1495-1498. It was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, for the convent refectory (dining area) of Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan. As we all know, it depicts the story as told in John's Gospel, 13:21, the disciples breaking bread with Jesus, and he telling them that he will be betrayed. A powerful message for the diners. At that time, the meal was generally eaten in relative silent, perhaps the abbot or abbess reading a bible passage. The mural towers above the dining area.

Painted on an exterior wall, the effects of humidity were devastating, and paint did not properly adhere to the mural surface. This damage was happening as early as 1517! By 1556, the work was described as ruined, the figures unrecognizable. How sad. And so, restoration was considered, but first, for the refectory's convenience, a door was cut into the wall. This was in 1652, and it was later closed up, but that damage was done as well. You can still see the area where the door was placed.

In the 18th Century, the following occurred:

A first restoration began in 1726 by artist Bellotti, filling in missing sections of the work with oil paint and then a coat of varnish. Bad move!

In 1768, a curtain was hung over the painting, and though for protection, it trapped more moisture, and when the material was removed, there was further flaking.

Another restoration effort began in 1770, by a relatively unknown artist Giuseppe Mazza. He stripped off Bellotti's work, and began repainting most of the mural. There was public outrage, and he was stopped.

In 1796, French revolutionary anti-cleric troops used the refectory as an armory, and in their protestation, threw stones at the work, and scratched out the eyes of the apostles. The room was later converted to a prison.

The 19th Century saw other attempts to recreate the mural, repair the damage, but it was not until the late 1970's to 1999 that technology allowed for the work to be preserved as we see it today.

Of course, nothing lasts forever, but we can now see Leonardo's efforts as best as they can be seen. The good intentions of our 18th Century counterparts took their toll, but as they sometimes say, the good never dies, it just fades away.