Leonardo

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Leonardo's Last Supper, painted between 1494 and 1498 in Milan's Santa Maria delle Grazie, is a pivotal Renaissance masterpiece that has faced centuries of controversy and neglect. Initially, the prior of the monastery expressed concerns about the lengthy process of creation, foreshadowing the challenges the painting would encounter over time. This work, translated from Italian, documents a dedicated effort to restore and preserve the painting, which has suffered from pollution, candle smoke, and even wartime damage. Leonardo's innovative technique deviated from traditional fresco methods, opting to paint on dry plaster, which rendered the artwork vulnerable to deterioration. By the mid-twentieth century, the Last Supper was in dire need of restoration. Pinin Brambilla Barcilon led a comprehensive twenty-year project to address these issues. This book records her meticulous work, detailing the cleaning and removal of previous overpainting, and showcasing Barcilon's watercolor additions based on Leonardo's original preparatory drawings and early copies. Featuring nearly 400 stunning color reproductions and extensive technical documentation, along with an introductory essay by art historian Pietro C. Marani, this volume serves as an invaluable historical record and a beautiful tribute to the legacy of Renaissance painting, appealing to art enthusiasts and historians alike.