Last Supper, The

Fresco by Leonardo da Vinci 1495–98 in the refectory of the Dominician friary of Sta Maria delle Grazie, Milan. Here he applied the principles he had developed in a treatise on painting, carefully working out the dramatic and psychological interrelation of a group such as that of Christ and the apostles in terms of action and gesture.

He increased the effect by the painted interior perspective, which, while it gave the illusion of extending the space of the refectory, also seemed to bring the Last Supper table actually into the room.

Unfortunately Leonardo's love of experiment led him to use oil on plaster. The masterpiece, already decaying in his lifetime, has suffered progressive damage since, though restorers have done much to prevent further deterioration.

The painting was commissioned by the Sforza family, in whose service Leonardo was staying in Milan.