What is said to be unusual about Renaissance paintings depicting the Last Supper?

lanfranco

Peasy, this question is so general that it's just about impossible to answer. Some people might say, "Well, a meal at that time would have involved the participants reclining on couches" (the Gospels do mention reclining), whereas most -- though not all -- depictions of the subject involve a table (often with Judas sitting across from Christ and the other Apostles). Very early manuscript paintings do sometimes involve reclining, but I can't find a good one on the web (I think there's one in the Rossano Gospels in Calabria). Here are some later, but significant, examples of the subject: http://www.abcgallery.com/religion/lastsupper.html I should mention that Dr. Leo Steinberg, one of my former grad school professors, is one of the reigning experts on Leonardo's "Last Supper," and on the history of the subject in general. His book "Leonardo's Incessant Last Supper" was published in 2001. Jul 01 05, 5:28 PM

peasypod

Very general I admit, but think about what I do for a living... Jul 01 05, 5:46 PM

peasypod

...and to be quite Frank, I find the actual answer a bit iffy..considering. Jul 01 05, 5:48 PM

lanfranco

Are you concerned about the menu? Jul 01 05, 5:50 PM

Brinjal

Without researching is it something to do with the fact that mary magdaline appears to be in the painting. If this is mary then where is John. Or ios that an effeminate john. And is there someone one missing. there is a big gap between mary(john) and Jesus. Lots of speculation seems to have occured about this painting and highlighted in the book The da Vinci code. Havent read it yet tho. Jul 02 05, 2:39 AM

Brinjal

Another thought. If they were all gathered together to celibrate Peasach they would be standing not seated and they would have unleaven bread and bitter herbs and the like not a sumptuious fare. Also would brobable have basic utensils not kives and things. M Jul 02 05, 4:47 AM

peasypod

I am concerned about the menu. Mind you, this is one of those 'tidbits of so-called interesting trivia' found on those mind-numbingly repetitive sites salt and peppered every which way but up... A tad wishy-washy if you ask me, but carry on guys, let's see what you come up with. Jul 02 05, 6:52 AM

barker111

Rather than being seated around the table they all have uncomfortably crowded to just one side. Jul 02 05, 11:03 AM

Arpeggionist

A Passover seder is a rather conflicted affair. It celebrates the extreme points of freedom and servitude, and people celebrating it would eat bitter herbs and "bread of poverty" while reclining like kings on couches, even at the time of Jesus. What they would not have on the menu is a regular loaf of bread - the reason that eucharist wafers are wafers is that the bread Jesus was saying his blessings over was unleavened. Jul 02 05, 2:04 PM

lanfranco

And that raises an interesting issue: I've got houseguests this weekend, which is why I didn't get back to this question earlier, but while discussing this question with one of my guests 15 minutes ago, he pointed out that many paintings of the Last Supper depict raised bread or rolls --that is, leavened bread. Look very closely at the paintings on the link I provided. In the meatime, I have to go feed this guy and his wife. They're getting rosemary bread for dinner ... non-scratchy. Jul 02 05, 4:57 PM

peasypod

Not the bread. Keep scratching... Jul 02 05, 5:01 PM

peasypod

Taken from the same dubious 'interesting facts' sites, apparently no word rhymes with the answer. Jul 03 05, 6:08 PM

Brinjal

Hmm without going back to look at the paintings it must have something to do with silver utnsils purple garb or oranges. Jul 04 05, 4:55 AM

peasypod

Are you going to put 2 and 2 together then? Jul 04 05, 6:19 AM

peasypod

For the love of God, somebody write 'Oranges'.. Jul 04 05, 7:52 PM

lanfranco

Oh, all right. No oranges in Jerusalem at the time, despite their appearance in various LS paintings. Supposedly. http://www.trivia-library.com/b/famous-feasts-in-history-the-last-supper-of-jesus.htm Jul 04 05, 8:08 PM

peasypod

Yeehar. Supposedly, yes. I'm dubious about that one, however. Jul 04 05, 8:14 PM

daddy1161992

BESIDES ORANGES,AND LEAVENED BREAD, THE MEAL OF PASSOVER OCCURS AFTER SUNSET,AND IF I REMEMBER THE SCENE IN BACK OF THEM WAS DAYLIGHT Jul 05 05, 8:40 PM