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Archaeology & History

Was Da Vinci in The Last Supper ?

By T.K. Randall
August 21, 2012 · Comment icon 11 comments

Image Credit: Leonardo Da Vinci
Did Renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci paint his likeness in to one of his most famous paintings ?
Art expert Ross King believes that Da Vinci used his own image when he painted Thomas and James the Lesser in The Last Supper. The claim is partly based on a poem by Da Vinci's friend Gasparo Visconti who made references suggesting that Da Vinci may have included his likeness in some of his paintings. A chalk drawing thought to portray Da Vinci from 1515 also bears resemblance to the two figures in The Last Supper.

"The Last Supper is the only work that no one - either crackpot or academic - has tried to identify as a Leonardo portrait," said King.
In humorous verse, Visconti mocks an unnamed artist for putting his self-portrait into his paintings – "however handsome it may be" – and with his own "actions and ways", namely gestures and expressions.


Source: Independent | Comments (11)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #2 Posted by BiffSplitkins 13 years ago
The man was an extremely talented artist. He had the right to paint himself in anywhere, even as a 'happy tree' in my opinion.
Comment icon #3 Posted by E. L. Wisty 13 years ago
Unfortunately it's pretty hard to say anything definite about this painting, because nobody knows what it's really supposed to look like. Leonardo used an experimental type of paint he'd invented which began to self-destruct almost as soon as it was finished. The painting has been restored 19 times, mostly very carelessly. At one point it was in such a state that they knocked a door through it, thus destroying the legs of Jesus (and making it less obvious that he's 8 feet tall). Judas in particular has suffered multiple indignities. At an early stage he was repainted to look more Jewish (a bit... [More]
Comment icon #4 Posted by Ninhursag 13 years ago
Leonardo Was A Peculiar Character .. It Is Only Reasonable He Would Insert Peculiarities In His Works As Well
Comment icon #5 Posted by Lava_Lady 13 years ago
Some people think of this painting as real, like a photo of the actual thing. Possibly in reverence to Jesus.... Even though it doesn't make sense. its DaVincis vision, his hand painted it and he can put whoever he wants in it.
Comment icon #6 Posted by shaddow134 13 years ago
Seriously would it matter if he was? This is not big news,the world still turns....
Comment icon #7 Posted by Junior Chubb 13 years ago
I misread title and thought i was gonna be reading a scoop about Leo being "at" the Last Supper. lol Ah, well. While am here... Why not? I would have made myself Thomas and given Judas the face of Tony Curtis. He was not there for the supper, but he was there when it was painted.
Comment icon #8 Posted by Harlequin Dreamer 13 years ago
Is this a trick question and the answer lies in the Da Vinci code pt3.
Comment icon #9 Posted by Simbi Laveau 13 years ago
If he put himself in there,shouldn't the other three ninja turtles been there too ?
Comment icon #10 Posted by ealdwita 13 years ago
They look a right bunch of oiks in that picture! It'd be touch and go whether our Doris would've even served them in the Red Lion! I can hear her now......."B****y hippies! Damned good wash an' a 'aircut is what they need! Coming in 'ere, droppin' breadcrumbs everywhere! An' that 'Holier-than-thou' one in the middle - he'll come to a sticky end, you mark my words!"
Comment icon #11 Posted by Idano 13 years ago
So that's where Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King got the idea...


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