The Last Supper. You’ve probably seen it, or if not, you’ve at least seen the meme about it.
Jesus: A table for 26, please.
Waiter: But there are only 13 of you.
Jesus: I know, but we’re all going to sit on one side.
And while it’s true that this seating arrangement isn’t the most practical, Leonardo da Vinci likely chose it to signify the openness of Christianity and invite his viewers to share in Christ’s feast. Admittedly, it’s doubtful how devoted da Vinci was to Christianity, but it’s obvious from his paintings that he understood Scripture and had a zeal to use his gifts to spread the Word. Or maybe religious paintings were just what sold those days. Who knows?
Now, when I first looked at this painting, the first thing I saw was not Jesus framed by a bright window that makes Him appear to be glowing. And it wasn’t the disciples in their various conversations and gestures. It was the bread.
Can somebody please tell me why in the name of a tie-dyed pickle is bread sitting on the table when there are several empty plates scattered around that could easily hold it? What about germs? my mind shrieks. What about keeping the table clean?
As it turns out, the bread-on-the-table issue wasn’t a mistake—Leonardo didn’t accidentally plop some paint on the canvas and turn it into a dinner roll. In fact, the placement was quite intentional. When the five lines of the musical staff are drawn across the table, the bread and the disciples’ hands actually form a unique, 40-second, hymn-like tune.
Now that you’re looking at the table, let’s discuss the other food (because no, they didn’t just have bread and wine, at least not in Leonardo’s version). Situated on the plates near the ends of the table is some sort of fish (loaves and fish—ring a bell, anyone?), likely either eel or herring.
In Northern Italian dialect, the word for herring, “renga,” also describes someone who denies religion. Recall that at the Last Supper, Jesus predicts Peter will deny Him three times. Coincidence? I think not. Alternately, the Italian word for eel, “arringa,” is similar to “aringa,” which means “to indoctrinate.” Is this a jab at the veracity of Jesus’s words? Or was Leonardo a devout believer who just wanted to paint some fish? I guess I’ll leave that up to you…. (*Greatest Showman soundtrack begins to play*)
And while we’re on the topic of karaoke, everything Judas had was really Never Enough for him, since he betrayed his friend and Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Curiously enough, Judas is the only disciple depicted with a darker skin tone and a crooked nose, both stereotypical images of Jews. Also, his left hand is grasping for something, possibly the bread he would dip to betray Jesus. Left hands were viewed as sinister in those days, and many left-handed people were thought to be witches. As you study Judas, you might also notice something interesting about what he’s drinking: milk, not wine like the other disciples, which indicates his fall from grace.
If you’ve made it this far in this article, congratulations! You’re probably an art nerd like me, or you simply believed this article would be funny because it’s in the humor section, and you’re still waiting for the jokes. Well, sorry to disappoint. A painting as serious as The Last Supper couldn’t possibly be humorous, could it?
Obviously that was a rhetorical question, and the answer is yes. Just take one look at the disciples’ expressions and gestures, and you’ll see that da Vinci has a massive sense of humor. Ranging from philosophical (Matthew – third from right), to this-is-tomfoolery (Andrew – third from left), to what’d-He-say-I couldn’t-hear-Him (Peter – second head to Jesus’s left), to bear hug (James the Greater – directly next to Jesus on the right), their elaborate and very human expressions are in stark contrast to Jesus’s simple pose. He sits in the center with downcast eyes and His hands stretched out toward the bread and wine. In the midst of His disciples’ arguments, disbeliefs, betrayals, and awkward hugs, He is still and peaceful. Despite knowing that He is about to die in agony, He is the only one who is calm.
And maybe that’s what Leonardo da Vinci wanted to show with his Last Supper. When things go crazy, when everything is wrong, Jesus is still there to give us peace. We might argue or doubt, but He knows the truth: He loves us, He died willingly for us, and He would die that excruciating death again for you—yes, you—because He loves you that much.
So when our dinner rolls are scattered all over the table instead of piled neatly on their plates, and we cry out that we don’t know what’s going on, Jesus assures us that He is in control, and He’s writing them into a symphony.
Works Cited
“The Last Supper – by Leonardo da Vinci.” Leonardodavinci.net, https://www.leonardodavinci.net/the-last-supper.jsp#prettyPhoto
Gaskill, Matthew. “Hidden Meanings and Secret Codes Buried in Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper.’” thevintagenews, 21 Feb., 2019, https://www.thevintagenews.com/2019/02/21/the-last-supper/
Jones, Meghan. “10 Secret Messages Hidden in World-Famous Paintings.” Readersdigest, 04 Oct., 2021, https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-famous-paintings/