Secrets Revealed: The Mysterious Messages Hidden in Leonardo da Vinci’s ”The Last Supper”

One of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous and most debated paintings is his late 15th century fresco “The Last Supper.” Placed throughout the composition are various symbols with meanings that remain controversial and uncertain to this day. For centuries, scholars and art historians alike have tried to uncover what exactly Leonardo was trying to say to his audience in this exceptional work. In this first installment of Patheos’ new series on Art and Religion, we look at the various messages hidden within this popular piece, attempting to decipher what they are and what they mean about Leonardo, Jesus, the Last Supper, and faith. Note: The primary painting featured in this episode is a copy of Leonardo’s original “The Last Supper“ that is most often attributed to two of Leonardo’s pupils: Giampietrino (1508-1549) and Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio (1467-1516). This copy is believed to have been completed sometime between 1515 and 1520, approximately 20 years after Leonardo completed his orig