The Last Supper

The secrets of The Last Supper often lie in what the eye does not perceive at first glance. Recent infrared reflectography analyses have confirmed the presence of a nail driven into Christ’s temple, used by Leonardo to trace all the perspective’s vanishing lines. Even more intriguing, a musicological study suggests that the arrangement of the apostles’ hands and the bread on the table forms a hidden musical score, readable from right to left according to Leonardo’s habit, creating a 40-second funeral melody. Judas, often relegated to the shadows, is depicted here on the same plane as the others, but his face is cast in a symbolic shadow, and his hand brushes against Christ’s near the dish, confirming the biblical prophecy. Another mystery concerns the absence of a chalice. While the Last Supper celebrates the institution of the Eucharist, no Holy Grail is visible on the table, as Leonardo preferred to focus on the human aspect of betrayal rather than the liturgical ritual. Furthermore, during World War II, the refectory was almost completely destroyed by Allied bombing; only a structure of sandbags saved Leonardo’s wall, a survival many consider a modern miracle. Finally, the faces of the apostles are said to have been inspired by real criminals and Milanese citizens Leonardo observed to capture the "truth" of human features.