Mysterious Last Supper Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci

There has been much speculation about the mysterious space Leonàrdo Da Vinci placed beside Christ in his painting "The Last Supper". From conjectures people have made about the painting, it is as if they see it as a photograph taken of "The Last Supper" - not an artwork created thousands of years after the actual event. Numerous legends and folk tales have led people to speculate all kinds of things about the space beside Jesus in the painting. This post seeks to shine a light on what might be a bit more realistic reason for the space beside Christ in Da Vinci's painting.

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Why I Believe There Is a Space Beside Christ in "The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci

No one can say with absolute certainty why Leonardo Davinci put a space beside Christ in his painting "The Last Supper". However, a few facts about Leonardo Da Vinci and the culture of his time can give us a more plausible, albeit, more mundane, reason for the space beside Christ than that given in the exciting imaginative movie "The DaVinci Code". First, however, let's see what we can glean from the accounts of people who lived a little closer to the time of the event than you, I, or for that matter- Da Vinci. What exactly does it say happened at that last meal Christ shared with His apostles?

The Last Supper According to the Gospels

Matthew

In Matthew, the recount of the Last Supper begins in chapter 23 verse 17.

"Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?"

This piece of scripture gives us two important clues.

1. When

2. The type of meal.

This was no ordinary dinner that they would be having together, but a highly ritualized meal steeped in centuries of tradition. They were going to be celebrating Passover!

In Matthew 26:20 we get two more clues.

"Now when the even came, he sat down with the twelve."

Here we find the time of day - evening, and exactly who was there at the Passover meal - the 12 disciples.

Mark

We find the Passover meal preparations beginning in chapter 14 of Mark.

Mark 14:12 "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?"

This Gospel gives us a bit more of the time frame. They had killed the Passover sacrifice and needed a place to eat it that evening.

The book of Mark also tells us where they were going to eat their Passover meal.

Mark 14:15 "And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us."

In addition to this, Mark tells us how many people were at the Passover seder and the time of day.

Mark 14:17 "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve."

Luke

In Luke, the scene is set in chapter 22 verse 7.

"Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed."

Later, in verse 12, we find out a bit more about where they will be eating the Passover meal.

"And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready."

John

In the Gospel of John, the recounting of that last evening can be found in chapter 13. This account tells us about the washing of the disciple's feet after dinner. Following the foot washing, they are reseated at the table in what might seem to some a very curious position.

John 13:23 "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."

Have you ever wondered, "Why would a disciple be laying on Christ's chest?" According to tradition, when people eat the Passover meal they are to lay around a low table on their left side in fancy clothes propped up on pillows in imitation of their former rich slave masters. In addition to this, the person doing the blessing of the food usually sits at the head of the table and people are seated on both sides of the table. So now that we have more of the facts about the room, the time of day and the positioning of the people around the table we can take a clearer look at Da Vinci's fanciful painting - The Last Supper.

The Last Supper -An Imaginative Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci

As we can see from the gospel accounts of the last Passover Yeshua observed with His disciples, Da Vinci's depiction of the event in no way reflects the actual seating of the disciples.

DaVinci has them seated in chairs as if they are at the head table of a wedding banquet. The time of day appears to be mid-afternoon. No one is leaning back on Jesus.

Why might Da Vinci have painted the Last Supper like this?

During the time Leonardo Da Vinci was painting "The Last Supper", the artwork was usually commissioned by wealthy patrons. Frequently, patrons of these artworks would have their likenesses inserted into the art. In all likelihood, the people in the painting of The Last Supper were wealthy patrons of the arts.

So, why is the space in the place beside Christ in this painting? I believe this empty person-sized space was created by Da Vinci, so common people could also imagine themselves there at the table with Christ. Why do you think Da Vinci put a person-sized space beside Christ in his painting "The Last Supper"?

Pop a note in the comments below before you go and let everyone know. Su References:

Sources:

Bible verses - Study Bible https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=study.bible.free

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

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