Leonardo da Vinci and The Last Supper

In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci began working on "The Last Supper" — a mural that was destined to become one of the most famous and influential works in the history of world art. After ten years in the service of the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, Leonardo's situation was dire: at 43, he had yet to create anything truly worthy of his brilliant talent. The commission for the mural in the Dominican monastery's refectory was a small consolation, and the artist's chances of success were slim. Never before had Leonardo worked on such a monumental painting, nor did he have experience with the extremely complex fresco technique. Against a backdrop of war, political intrigue, and religious upheaval, suffering from the uncertainty of his own position and painfully reminiscing about past failures, Leonardo created a masterpiece that immortalized his name for centuries. Debunking numerous myths that have surrounded "The Last Supper" almost since its creation, Ross King proves that the true story of Leonardo da Vinci's celebrated work is more fascinating than any of them.