Study for the Last Supper

"Study for the Last Supper" is an insightful preparatory sketch and study by Leonardo da Vinci, created around 1495–1498, exemplifying the principles of the High renaissance. Although not as finished as the famous mural, this work reveals Leonardo’s mastery in handling ink to explore composition, perspective, and human emotion. The painting itself depicts the pivotal moment after Jesus announces his betrayal, set in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The intricate display of motion and emotion, along with Leonardo’s innovative spatial techniques, have made it one of the most celebrated and recognizable artworks in Western art history.