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Leonardo Da Vinci |
Leonardo Da Vinci, who painted the Last Super, devoted
seven years to this masterpiece. The life-model for the painting of the figure
of Jesus was chosen first. For six months Da Vinci worked on the production of
this leading character of his famous painting.
During the next six years Da Vinci continued his labors
on this sublime work of art. One by one fitting persons were chosen to
represent each of the eleven Apostles; space being left for the painting of the
figure representing Judas Iscariot as the final task of this masterpiece.
After many discouraging experiences in searching for the
type of person required to represent Judas, word came to Da Vinci that a man
whose appearance fully met his requirements had been found in a dungeon in
Rome, sentenced to die for a life of crime and murder. By special permission
from the kind, this prisoner was carried to Milan where the picture was being
painted.
For months he sat before Da Vinci at appointed hours each
day as the gifted artist diligently continued his task of transmitting to his
painting this base character representing the traitor and betrayer of our
Savior. As he finished his last stroke, he turned to the guards and said, “I
have finished. You may take the prisoner away.”
As the guards were leading their prisoner away, he
suddenly broke loose from their control and rushed up to Da Vinci, crying as he
did so, “O, Da Vinci, look at me! Do you not know who I am?” “No, I have never
seen you in my life until you were brought before me out of the dungeon in
Rome.”
Then, lifting his eyes toward heaven, the prisoner said, “Oh,
God, have I fallen so low?” Then turning his face to the painter he cried, “Leonardo
Da Vinci! Look at me again for I am the same man you painted just seven years
ago as the figure of Christ.” (Author Unknown)
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