Last Supper FAQs – Answers to All Your Questions Related to Leonardo da Vinci’s Masterpiece

The Last Supper painting depicts the Biblical scene of Jesus having his final meal with his twelve Apostles before his death and crucifixion. It focuses more on Judas’ betrayal than the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

The painting is 460 cm x 880 cm wide and covers an entire wall in the Santa Maria Basilica. 

After in-depth research into Palestinian cuisine, researchers say that Jesus’ last meal would have been a type of bean stew, including olives, lamb, herbs, and unleaved bread. It could also include a fish sauce and dates, with aromatic wine on the side.

Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter, known for his brilliant artistic technique and attractive compositions, painted the Last Supper. 

The painting is in Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy. It is on the wall of the Refectory, which was previously a part of the Dominican Convent. 

The figure of Jesus sits at the center of the Last Supper table, with the disciples divided into two groups on his left and right side. This composition ensures that all viewer’s eyes are drawn to him in the middle of the painting. 

It was painted in the years between 1495 and 1498. However, Da Vinci did not work on the painting continuously in these four years.  

Jesus is the host at the center of the painting. Around him are his twelve Apostles, namely Bartholomew, Andrew, James, Peter, Thomas, John, Philip, Judas, Judas of Thaddeus, Simeon, and James, the son of Alpheus. 

Judas is on the left side of Jesus in the painting. He is depicted looking up at the Apostles John and Peter. One of his hands is stretched out to get the bread from the table, while the other holds a bag of coins. 

The painting was painted directly onto the Refectory wall in the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church. It cannot be moved from here to a Musuem or any other space. 

The painting is focused on Judas’ betrayal at the Last Supper. It does not focus on the changing of the bread and wine into Jesus’ body and blood. 

The Last Supper” is a mural painting created by Leonardo da Vinci. It is not a fresco. Leonardo used tempera and oil paints on a dry preparatory layer applied to the stone wall, which allowed him to achieve greater detail but resulted in a less durable artwork. 

Some painting techniques used in this masterpiece are Chiaroscuro, which creates a perfect blend between two shades of color, to form a realistic final image. Leonardo also added a white base to the painting to make the colors stand out. 

The message is that Catholics became united symbolically with Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Communion, which was born at the Last Supper. Because of Jesus’ crucifixion and sacrifice for Humanity, Catholics all around the world believe that they are forgiven.

There is no woman in the painting. What most people presume to be the image of a woman is St. John. Leonardo painted his features to resemble the ideal beauty standards of the Renaissance, giving him long hair and glowy skin color, which is usually mistaken for a woman’s features. 

The Apostle Peter, who sits beside Judas on Jesus’ left, holds a knife in hand. This is to symbolize the Biblical event of Peter cutting off the ear of a guard who tries to capture Jesus. 

The main controversy of the painting is that most visitors mistake St John for a depiction of Mary Magdalene in the painting, based on the famous Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. 

The number three is repeated in the painting, as the Apostles are grouped in threes. There are also three windows behind Jesus, showing the presence of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity in the Bible are God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, who come together to make one God. We recommend taking a Last Supper Guided Tour to learn more about this belief, as it can be complicated to understand by yourself. 

When the Refectory’s doorway was being extended, a huge piece of the painting was cut off. This resulted in the loss of the depiction of Jesus’ feet in the painting. 

The Refectory in which the painting stands was used as a stable during WWII by Napoleon’s soldiers. It was also bombed and underwent other damage but miraculously survived! 

It is believed that Leonardo da Vinci used a real prisoner as a reference to paint the face of Judas. When Leonardo found a prisoner to draw, he realized that he had used the same person as the reference to paint Jesus! However, there is no proof of the occurrence of such an event. 

The Refectory is not a simple room anymore. Over the years, technicians have transformed the space into an environment-controlled room to keep the painting safe. This allows the centuries-old mosaic to be protected from moisture, light, air, and other natural elements that could damage it. 

You must have a ticket to see the painting. However, you can enter and explore the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church for free. 

Visitors cannot enter the Refectory to see the painting without a tour guide. 

A tour of Last Supper Lasts around 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the selection of your ticket. 

The Last Supper Guided Tour with a professional English-speaking tour guide, for an hour, costs €90 for adults 99 years and younger. 

You can cancel your ticket 24 hours before your booked time slot for a 100% refund.  

All visitors will be given a dedicated time slot to see the painting. You cannot enter the Refectory before or after the slot time allotted. 

Only 35 visitors are allowed to enter the Refectory to see Da Vinci The Last Supper in one group.  

Before you enter the room, all visitors must step into a dehumidifying room This will prevent them from taking moisture into the main Refectory, which could cause great damage to the ancient wall painting. 

Shorts are not allowed when visiting the Chapel to see the painting. 

All visitors must follow the Last Supper dress code, which demands that your shoulders and knees are covered at all times. 

There are no rules for footwear options to enter the Refectory to see the painting. You can wear sandals or sneakers for the most comfort since there are no seating spaces inside the Refectory. 

You can capture photos of the painting but without a flash as flash photography is strictly prohibited inside the refectory.. No professional camera equipment is allowed inside the main room. 

All visitors must carry their passports or other ID proof to see the painting. If the name you gave during registration does not match your ID proof, you will not be allowed inside the Refectory to see the artwork. 

Yes, the painting is open to visit on Sundays from 2 pm to 7 pm. However, all visitors must have a reservation. 

Visitors are allowed to spend 15 minutes inside the Refectory to admire the Last Supper painting. 15 minutes are also needed for the dehumidifying toom, which you will enter before going to the Refectory. 

The Refectory of the Church is open to explore from Tuesdays to Sundays. The Last Supper hours from Tuesdays to Saturdays are from 8.15 am to 7 pm. On Sundays, it is open for visitors with reservations from 2 pm to 7 pm. 

The Refectory is less crowded since a fixed number of visitors can enter in each group. For a quieter experience, visit at 8:15 a.m., right when the visiting hours start, on weekdays instead of weekends, and during the non-peak season in April and May.

Large bags, suitcases, sharp objects, strollers, food items, water bottles, and beverages are not allowed inside the room where the painting is displayed. 

You can enter Santa Maria delle Grazie Church for free. You must only pay to see the Last Supper painting. 

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper painting and Giovanni Donato da Montofano’s painting of the Crucifixion are in the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church in Milan. 

The best way to reach the Church is to take the Metro Line M1 (red) and hop off at Concillazione Metro Station, a 5-minute walk away. You can also take buses 50, N50, 58, 68, 67, 85, NM1, NM2, N25, and N26 to get to the Concillazione M1 bus stop, which is a 6-minute walk away. To know more, check out our How to Reach the Last Supper article! 

Some of the great restaurants close to the Church where the painting is are, Cafe La Grazie, Miscusi Milano Cadorna, L’uccellina, Arcano Restaurant, and Trattoria La Colonna.  To know more check out our article on Top 7 Restaurants near the Last Supper! 

Some other fun attractions to explore in Milan around the painting are the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science & Technology, La Scala Opera House and Museum, Duomo di Milano, and more. Check out our article on top attractions to explore around the Last Supper to know more. 

The Church and Refectory are entirely accessible for wheelchair users and those having other mobility devices. 

The mass timings at the Church from Mondays to Saturdays are at 7.30 am, 8.30 am, 9.30 am, and 6.30 pm. On Sundays and other public holidays, the masses are at  8 am, 9.30 am, 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 6 pm, and 8 pm. 

Leonardo’s students Giampetrino, Cesare de Sesto, and Andrea Solari made replicas of the painting. They are displayed in the London Royal Academy of Arts, Switzerland Church of St. Ambrogio, and the Leonardo da Vinci Musuem in Belgium

A few Last Supper facts to show off your knowledge to your friends and family members are:

• Leonardo copied the faces of real people to paint the Apostles and Jesus!
• Leonardo da Vinci used a nail and hammer to create a perfect perspective for the painting.
• A few brush strokes done by Da Vinci exist today, since the painting has been restored multiple times over the years. 

The painting appeared in many popular TV shows, like The Simpsons, South Park, and others that referenced it. It is also mentioned in the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which is what created controversy around the painting, increasing its fan numbers!