The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci's piece "The Last Supper" was painted for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie of Milan between 1495 and 1498.  This magnificent painting, which is painted directly onto the wall in what would have been the "mess hall" for the Dominican friars, depicts the moving moment when Christ declares "One of you will betray me tonight".  Da Vinci painted each disciple as responding to Christ in a way that tells you their character or personality. 

Commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Lodovico Sfzora, in 1495, Da Vinci was not known to work quickly, so, therefore, this is not a fresco where paint is used on wet plaster, but rather painted with tempera and oil paints.  The painting began to flake within a few years of completion and many heavy-handed renovations (including the cutting out of a door below Christ) ensued.  Napoleon used this room as a stable while occupying Milan and during WWII, the painting miraculously survived a bombing that took out the ceiling and one wall!

In 1999 a controversial 20-year restoration took place.  The painting is still fragile, therefore, a visitor is allowed only a 15-minute maximum visit with small groups of 15.  Students waited patiently outside in an antechamber before being allowed inside to view this masterpiece.  To some students, this moment brought a sense of wonderment and awe, to others, it was a moment they remembered reading about in history class, to CIEE, this was a moment to embrace the cultural aspect of this program.