The conservators stared in astonishment at the work of art. This 17th-century masterpiece was one of the most celebrated and revered of its time. The experts were then terrified to damage it as they began carefully peeling off the varnish. The artwork, named “Portrait of a Young Woman,” is an incredible case of Rembrandt’s studio’s productions, despite not having been made by the Dutch master – or at least that was what everyone believed. But as the art conservators busied themselves with the wiping job, a strange detail began to emerge. They were on the verge of making a stunning discovery. For this museum, things were about to become very interesting…
The Stunning Secret Hiding Behind The Varnish Of An Imitation Rembrandt Painting
Fallen Into Neglect
You cannot deny that “Portrait of a Young Woman” is a beautiful painting. It wasn’t, however, the best-kept painting from the 1600s. Completed in 1632, the portrait had been handled with less care than other more significant paintings. The Allentown Art Museum was also guilty of this neglect, having forgotten about it for around sixty years. Eventually, the abandoned artwork would come back to light as the New York University took it for a long overdue cleaning.
Fallen Into Neglect
The Allentown Art Museum
Pennsylvania’s Allentown Art Museum had good reason to store the painting. This establishment had its roots in the Great Depression, when the local population banded together under Walter Emerson Baum’s leadership. This was a local critic and artist who wanted to create a haven for art and culture within the Keystone State. The humble rooms showed artworks from a range of artists born in Pennsylvania. That being said, the 1960s saw a big change in the organization’s finances.
The Allentown Art Museum
The Kress Foundation Weighs In
The Kress Foundation would eventually become involved with the organization and shake things up. The Foundation was established by Samuel Kress, the American businessman and philanthropist. It was thanks to him that a minimum of 53 Renaissance artworks were added to the museum! Of course, this was an incredible moment for the museum, and the locals were motivated to preserve and build up the place, which still stands in modern times. This was an incredible initiative that was started by people who dearly loved art.
The Kress Foundation Weighs In
The Artwork
Among the many Renaissance artworks that were donated was “Portrait of a Young Woman”. The Kress Foundation had donated many sensational pieces, but few stood out more than this one. Even more incredibly, it was believed at the time to have been an original Rembrandt. The mission suddenly became that much more exciting. But the drama would only last so long after Dutch art experts took a closer look at the painting. They revealed that it was not a Rembrandt original, but one of his assistant’s work.
The Artwork
Depressing Revelations
You can imagine that the trustees and staff within the museum were bitterly disappointed when they heard the news. “The Portrait of a Young Woman” had been the crown jewel of the museum, after all. This was a museum that was not as established as the ones in New York, and having a Rembrandt in their possession would have greatly boosted their status. It would have also finally put the small town on the map.
Depressing Revelations
The Master’s Apprentice
This did not stop the painting from being proudly displayed, however, as the less famous assistant to Rembrandt still deserved to be honored. Ironically, in 2018, the painting was whisked off to New York University. There it was subjected to numerous tests, such as electron microscopy, X-ray procedures, and infrared scanning. Thanks to procedures like these, the experts then learned that something was out of place with the artwork. Just what had they stumbled upon?
The Masters Apprentice
His Name
Those that handled the preservation of “Portrait of a Young Woman” assumed that it had been painted by an artist that had studied under Rembrandt. This they gathered from the details and style of the artwork. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in 1606, in Leiden, the Netherlands. The man was best-recognized thanks to his first name. Leiden is a gorgeous city that is situated about five miles off the beautiful coast of the Netherlands.
His Name
The Youthful Master
Rembrandt came from a privileged and wealthy background. He shared his lofty home with numerous brothers and sisters, enjoying a total of eight siblings. His father worked in milling, while his mother was born to a baker. Rembrandt was impressively young when people began realizing just how intelligent and talented he was. The University of Leiden took him in at the age of 14. Given that most of us will just have started high school at this age, this was a sensational achievement.
The Youthful Master
Fascination With Painting
The teenager was beginning to show a budding passion for art. He had been at the university for all but a few months when he entered the apprenticeship with Jacob van Swaneburgh, the artist. The gentleman was an Italian-trained artist whose subject matter mainly revolved around history. Rembrandt would remain under Jacob’s tutorship for about three years. During this time, Rembrandt developed a foundation in fine art that would carry him into his later fame.
Fascination With Painting
Pieter Lastman’s Studio
Amsterdam was the next destination for Rembrandt, and he arrived in the Dutch capital in 1624. He then became a member of Pieter Lastman’s studio, where he worked for half a year. This artist was a master who developed artworks that told incredible stories. His detailed method would influence Rembrandt in a vital way, and later, Rembrandt’s own apprentice. Pieces like “The Three Crosses” and “Christ Presented to the People” are great examples of Rembrandt’s storytelling.
Pieter Lastmans Studio
Homeward Bound
Rembrandt completed his studies and apprenticeship and then headed back to Leiden to establish his personal studio, along with Jan Lievens, his fellow artist. It was in 1629 that Rembrandt’s talent finally received the attention that it deserved. He was soon recognized by Constantijn Huygens, a Dutch academic. Rembrandt now had the much-prized connection to The Hague’s Dutch royal court, something that most budding artists needed. The appetizing commissions then began rolling in for Rembrandt, with leading figures like Prince Frederik Hendrik approaching him.
Homeward Bound
Hiring People
Rembrandt would then make his way back to Amsterdam in 1631 to follow a career in portraiture. Now, keep in mind the 1632 date of “Portrait of a Young Woman.” It was around this time that Rembrandt began accepting apprentices. He would pass on the skills and passions that his tutors had given him to the next generation. Rembrandt would also continue to build his place as one of the most talented and acclaimed artists of his time. He was 64 years old when he passed in 1669.
Hiring People
Hideousness Overload
As recognized as Rembrandt was during his time, that did not mean that he was immune to criticism. Some people in the industry condemned his works for having too much “ugliness” in them. This “offensiveness” came about thanks to the realism that Rembrandt incorporated into his artworks. Regardless of his contemporary haters, Rembrandt is today known as a leading figure in art history. This means that anyone in possession of his works could easily be sitting on a small fortune, of course!
Hideousness Overload
The Opulent Artworks
For example, one of Rembrandt’s artworks fetched a sensational price tag in 2009. The artwork was completed in 1658 and showed a man with his arms folded against a half-length portrait. The painting was sold at Christie’s in London for over $33 million. Back then, this was the fourth most expensive Renaissance artwork to have been sold. Rembrandt’s value had never been so high, either. Incredibly, the 2000 sale of “Portrait of a Lady Aged 62” was the previously most expensive Rembrandt ever sold, for $29 million.
The Opulent Artworks
Working Together
And Rembrandt’s has only continued to increase over the years. As a result, fewer art collectors have been able to afford the maddening prices. Incredibly, the Dutch and French governments collaborated (and pooled their funds) to acquire a pair of the Renaissance master’s artworks at an exclusive Christie’s sale. When wealthy European governments combine forces to buy artworks, that should give you a good indication of how expensive they are. So, what did the officials buy?
Working Together
Two Peas In A Pod
The two artworks that the French and Dutch governments purchased were both of one couple: Oopjen Coppit and Maerten Soolmans. Rembrandt painted them in 1634 when they had been married for just one year. Both canvases were 83 by 53 inches in size. But how much did each piece go for? Both parted ways with Christie’s auction house for a whopping $95 million apiece! Most people cannot imagine earning even close to that much money, let alone spending it on art.
Two Peas In A Pod
Canadian Critics
Unfortunately, anything worth this much was bound to entice criminals, and art thieves have targeted Rembrandt’s works more than once. It was during 1972 that three men planned and executed a heist that resulted in the theft of a Rembrandt artwork. It was around midnight that the crew scaled the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ skylight. They were armed and wore masks. They made short work of the guards and restrained them before dashing out the building with a haul of jewelry and paintings. Rembrandt’s “Landscape with Cottages” artwork was among the loot, and it has never been rescued.
Canadian Critics
Conspiracy Theories
The investigator Alain Lacoursière cooked up a theory regarding the heist. He expanded on his ideas with Radio-Canada in 2017. According to Alain, “There were rumors at the time that members of the Mafia here were trying to construct a ship and that the canvases would be rolled up and put in the hold during construction. They are probably decorating the home or palace of a Russian, Italian or French Mafia member who may have exchanged them for drugs [or] weapons,”
Conspiracy Theories
More Heists
Then there was the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. This was a criminal operation that resulted in the biggest art robbery in history! Rembrandt’s artworks were once again targeted and two were snatched. Tragically, Rembrandt’s only ocean-themed artwork, “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, was lifted. “A Lady and Gentleman in Black” was also stolen. Both artworks were completed in 1633. In the end, a total of 13 pieces were taken by the master thieves.
More Heists
The Method
So, how was the greatest blow to the art world pulled off? A pair of men, dressed as police officers, visited the museum one night. The museum guards didn’t question the fake officers who they permitted entry. The two guards stationed that night were then tied up and the thieves went about their business. In just 1 hour and 21 minutes, the men dressed as police officers cleared out around $500 million worth of art. To this day, the Stewart Gardner Museum offers a $10 million prize for relevant information.
The Method
Flying Under The Radar
Coming back to the Allentown Art Museum, you can be certain that its employees are happy to have been spared the evils of art thieves. Especially when one considers the grand Rembrandt piece that was supposedly in its possession. The Kress Foundation had kindly handed over possession to this museum. This organization took its name from a local humanitarian named Samuel H. Kress. Without this man’s efforts, the formerly averagely regarded museum would not be what it is today.
Flying Under The Radar
Kress’s Fortunes
The generous man made a killing when he commenced his store chains named S.H. Kress. If you had to visit the organization’s website, you would see that its wares included happy and strong homeware. At one stage in American history, about 200 franchises were running throughout the country. Kress’s interests extended beyond retail, however, as the gentleman was also passionate about. Particularly that created during the Renaissance, of course, and he certainly had the funds to follow such interests.
Kresss Fortunes
The Generous Benefactor
The Kress Foundation was destined to begin handing out various artworks out of its collection to numerous museums and galleries throughout the United States. While many different organizations would gratefully accept many notable pieces, few would be as renowned as the suspected Rembrandt piece that Allentown received in 1961. Much excitement was generated within the locals when they found out that their beloved museum had received an esteemed artwork from one of the world’s greatest painters.
The Generous Benefactor
The Scientific Process
It was in 1970 that everything shifted. The Rembrandt Research Project, as it was called, received the painting and began working on it. The organization’s purpose, as you can imagine, was to establish whether certain paintings suspected to be Rembrandts had indeed been made by the master, or not. The Allentown Art Museum was destined for disappointment once the experts were finished looking the artwork over. Rembrandt had never touched “Portrait of a Young Woman”.
The Scientific Process
Extensive Testing
That is not to say that the organization did not run extensive tests on the piece before handing in their final conclusion. They did establish that the painting had come from Rembrandt’s studio, however, and believed that an assistant had created the piece. What evidence led them to this assessment? Incredibly, it was the type of lighting used in the painting, and the rough texture of the brush strokes. They had looked closer at the painting than anyone had before them.
Extensive Testing
The Paint And Characters
Beyond this, the professionals wondered how Rembrandt’s assistant had brought the woman’s outfit to life in the painting. It was such an obscure figure, after all. Then there was the signature, which was wildly different (to the trained eye) than the ones on proper Rembrandt works. But when X-rays were used to investigate the work, there was little room for debate. The brushwork would be examined in far greater detail thanks to this scanning technology.
The Paint And Characters
Uninspiring Results
Certainly, the folks over at Allentown were bitterly disappointed when they found out that their “Rembrandt” had been painted by someone else. They had been thrilled when they were first handed the piece, and the excitement must have died down there and then. If the experts had given them the answers that they wanted to hear, it would have put their museum on the map. But this was not to be, and an understudy of Rembrandt had created the piece in the master’s studio.
Uninspiring Results
The Real Artist
That is not to say that the artwork was not incredible, however, and even if Rembrandt had not made it himself, his assistant had done a fantastic job, even if he had tried to pose as his teacher. The painting was not exactly “fake”, given that it had been created under the guidance of the artist himself. Regardless, this work of art is still an important addition to art history and is worthy of conservation. This is why it was sent to New York.
The Real Artist
A Renowned Institution
The artwork was received by New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts in Manhattan. Along with the Kress Foundation, the institution works at conserving pieces provided to the organization across various galleries and museums across America. The institute’s website provides new details regarding the authenticity, authorship, purpose, and initial setting of the paintings in question. “Portrait of a Young Woman” would receive the same treatment. How much more information was about to be learned, and would a new light be shed on the mysterious painting?
A Renowned Institution
Aided By Science
A number of incredible methods were used to analyze “Portrait of a Young woman” not long after it came into possession of the New York University’s conservators. The artwork was analyzed using a method called infrared reflectography. Beyond this machine, X-rays were employed and the surface was observed using electron microscopy. While they were busy, incredible new details surfaced within the painting that was once thought to have been made by Rembrandt. What had they learned this time?
Aided By Science
Like The Master’s Brush Strokes
To be clear, the advanced analysis that the painting underwent brought some incredible details regarding the brushwork to light. It was revealed to be amazingly comparable to the techniques used in legitimate Rembrandt works. The New York University team included a dedicated member called Shan Kuang. She talked about her and her team’s findings with the New York Post in February 2020. What had Kuang and her team discovered through their hard and dedicated work?
Like The Masters Brush Strokes
The Varnish Was Stripped Away
Kuang showed that the work had, with closer inspection, revealed some incredible details. The artwork “showed brushwork, and a liveliness to that brushwork, that is quite consistent with other works by Rembrandt.” But before they could begin forming new theories, more inspections would need to be carried out on the painting. The group was also working hard at peeling away the varnish layers that had been coated onto the painting before. This was incredibly sensitive but laborious work.
The Varnish Was Stripped Away
Obscured, But Still There
We now return to the Allentown Art Museum, where its vice-president of curatorial affairs, called Elaine Mehalakes, who spoke to the New York Post about her special painting. She revealed that it had a number of varnish layers that hid the details of the initial brushwork, along with the incredible colors. Upon taking off the varnish cover, the conservators discovered something incredible regarding the artwork. Many professionals had looked at the painting, and the truth was finally starting to surface.
Obscured But Still There
Throughout The 20s
Kuang discussed her findings with CNN, and she said that the varnish had been applied for a rather ridiculous reason. Incredibly, people had a very different appreciation for amazing works of art during the 1920s. They did not like to see the texture of a painting, and preferred a “mirrored surface”, which was accomplished by laying on thick layers of varnish. This would allow the viewer to be reflected in the painting, which was the desired effect of the time. Of course, Rembrandt rolled in his grave every time someone desecrated his artworks this way!
Throughout The 20s
On Their Way To The Truth
“The restorer was so frustrated building up the layers of varnish to make the texture disappear that he actually poured it on. It was the consistency of molasses, and you could actually see the drip marks,” Kuang said. Now that the varnish had been rightfully removed, what did Kuang and her colleagues discover? Of course, the painting turned out to have been exceptionally made. There was no doubt left in anyone’s mind, this was a Rembrandt original!
On Their Way To The Truth
The Truth Will Out
Various curators and scholars had assessed the painting, and they all landed on the same conclusion. This was a true Rembrandt original, one that they would happily hang in their museums with his name on it. The Allentown institution’s members were overjoyed to finally learn that their piece was, in fact, what they had originally believed it to be. This had been an emotional rollercoaster for the museum members, and the painting had been on an incredible journey, too!
The Truth Will Out
The Happy News
Mehalakes was thrilled when she was told that their painting was what she had hoped it had been. She talked to the Philadelphia Inquirer in February 2020 where she shared how exciting and thrilling it was to learn the pleasing truth. According to Mehalakes, the artwork now enjoys a fantastic glow that was previously muddied by the varnish. One can now enjoy the painting the way that it was meant to be by forming a connection with it.
The Happy News
An Enormous Body Of Work
Rembrandt’s talent was just one detail that made him so successful. He was also incredibly industrious. With so many paintings produced by the genius, it is understandable if many people struggle to decide whether an individual piece is actually his or not. Brendon Grosvenor is an art historian that penned an article in the Financial Times in 2014 where he described how during the early 20th century, people believed that the master artist had produced between 600 and 650 pieces. As the 1970s came about, however, experts reduced this number to about 250.
An Enormous Body Of Work
The Joyous Conclusion
The Allentown Art Museum was handed a joyous conclusion to their pursuits. For around 10 years, the museum was under the impression that it was in possession of a Rembrandt. In 1970, professionals would destroy such notions when they reported that an apprentice had produced the piece. It would take about fifty years of further work before the real painter was identified. There was no room left for second-guessing, the New York University team had proven that Rembrandt had produced this beautiful and alluring work.
The Joyous Conclusion
Another Master
If you were asked what the most famous artwork on Earth is, how would you respond? You might say that Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” was the world’s most recognizable painting, and we are sure that many would agree. While we will not argue about whether da Vinci really painted it or not, that does not mean that the religious work isn’t hiding all manner of secrets! Let’s take a deep dive into this incredible work of immense spiritual significance.
Another Master
Regarding An Essential Religious Moment
Whether you are religious or not, there is no doubting that “The Last Supper” holding incredible significance for countless people in the world. Then there is the fact that da Vinci was such a mysterious character. The subject matter shows Jesus Christ seated with his disciples, not long before he was detained by the Romans. But there are many people, both art scholars and conspiracy theorists alike, that claim that da Vinci left many incredible secrets for the viewer in the grand painting.
Regarding An Essential Religious Moment
Capturing The World’s Attention
“The Last Supper” is an iconic piece of art, that is for sure, and most people in the Western world can identify it without question. While there are plenty of people that claim to know it all when it comes to da Vinci’s emotive piece, they might still have plenty to learn. Experts have obsessed over the work for many, many years, while more popular theories and myths have emerged among the public. Do you know any myths surrounding this work of art?
Capturing The Worlds Attention
Plenty Of Theories
So, what kind of theories are we talking about in this instance? We can begin by discussing the figures within the painting itself. In the middle is seated Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. Flanking him are his twelve disciples, who were Jesus’s most trusted and devoted followers. Following Christ’s brutal crucifixion, which itself is a central moment in the overall Biblical relevance, these disciples would journey throughout the world on a daring evangelical mission.
Plenty Of Theories
Inspiring Brush Strokes
Even if you are not Christian, you cannot deny that this masterful work of art has a special effect on the viewer. According to The Bible, the last supper was literally that, the final meal that Jesus shared with his followers before he was betrayed by one of his disciples (who is included in the painting). Jesus was then handed over to the Romans, who executed him in an agonizing and humiliating manner. This event was also where the Holy Communion rite was born, which billions of Christians across the world take part in.
Inspiring Brush Strokes
The Most Significant Meal
But despite how influential this meal would become for Christians, it seemed that da Vinci was less focused on the fare, but more on the figures gathered and their emotional reactions to Jesus’s revelation. You see, da Vinci captured the moment where he informed his disciples that one of them was on the verge of betraying him, causing them to become hysterical. Then there is the symbolism. While there are plenty of clues, some are subtler…
The Most Significant Meal
Divine Dismay
Can you imagine if the person that you looked up to with holy reverence told you that they were going to be betrayed by one of your closest friends? If you are Christian, then you understand how devastated the 12 disciples would be to learn such information. Their hysterical state was masterfully brought to life by da Vinci. Amazingly, Jesus is incredibly calm in the scene, which makes for an amazing juxtaposition with the rest of the figures.
Divine Dismay
Subtleties And Obviousness
But while the high emotions are evident in the painting, it is perhaps the more subtle factors in “The Last Supper” that truly captivate some viewers. According to da Vinci experts, one of his most famous paintings needs a trained eye to be truly understood and appreciated. There could very well be telling messages hiding in the paint that are highly relevant to the Bible’s overall lore. So, what exactly have said experts uncovered in this world-famous work?
Subtleties And Obviousness
The Man Behind The Legend
What have we learned about this iconic artwork? To begin with, da Vinci supposedly began working on “The Last Supper” in 1495. At this time, da Vinci was well into developing his career and gaining renown across the world. As for the artist himself, he was born in April 1452 in Tuscany. He was tutored by Andrea del Verrocchio when he moved to Florence. According to the history books, da Vinci grew up to become an ideal kind of Renaissance polymath.
The Man Behind The Legend
Beyond Art
Even those that know very little about the enigmatic man know that art was just one of his many pursuits, and that he was incredibly talented in a range of fields. Leonardo da Vinci was also a mathematician, sculptor, inventor, and astronomer! It is said that the earliest mention of a primitive airplane’s design can be attributed to da Vinci, as well as many other modern marvels. There was no denying that da Vinci was incredibly talented and intelligent.
Beyond Art
Verrocchio, His Master
Leonardo was also a deeply religious and spiritual gentleman. The initial piece that he created which became famous was “Baptism of Christ”. This was a piece that was made with his tutor, Verrocchio. The rest of his early works mainly focused on Christianity, too. It wasn’t long before da Vinci was requested to work with the Milan convent called Santa Maria delle Grazie. This was where he created the foundations for “The Last Supper”, which can be found in the convent’s refectory to this day.
Verrocchio His Master
Commonly Discussed
While it might seem to be an extraordinary subject matter for many people, the last supper was a commonly illustrated scene during the Renaissance. Artists of this time would often paint this significant moment in the New Testament. Take Pietro Perugino, for example, who painted the scene a few years before da Vinci did. While the two works are obviously comparable, Perugino chose to place Judas at the end of the table. There are plenty of other works from the time that mimicked Leonardo’s placement.
Commonly Discussed
The New Testament, Illustrated
Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, “The Last Supper”, depicts a scene that was described in the gospel of John. This is a section of The Bible in the overarching saga called The New Testament. Not long after Jesus and his entourage arrived in Jerusalem, they all enjoyed a significant meal together. Throughout this dramatic event, various crucial details surfaced that greatly shaped Christianity’s rituals and understanding in general. What could be so significant about something as ordinary as a dinner?
The New Testament Illustrated
Keep Your Friends Close
It was at this gathering that Jesus accurately prophesized that one of his disciples would hand him over to the Romans. It was this dramatic declaration that Leonardo decided to capture in “The Last Supper”. The disciples displayed fear and upset upon hearing Jesus’ dire proclamation. Given that they were are all supposedly unshakably devoted to Jesus, they could not bear the thought that one of them would betray their master and the son of God.
Keep Your Friends Close
The Other Events
But what else makes The Last Supper such an important moment for Christians? This was where one of the most significant rites in the Christian faith came to be. During this meal, Jesus instructed to eat bread, which was his flesh, and drink wine, which was his blood. This was the basis for Holy Communion, where Christians connect with their Lord by consuming bread wafers and drinking special communion wine that are symbolic of Christ’s body.
The Other Events
More News
Further, the Gospel of John states that Christ had one final bit of news to give his friends and followers. He also accused Peter that he would deny being Jesus’s acquaintance three times before the following sunrise. Such news would alarm the disciples even further, causing them to become even more hysterical. Such apparent dissent among the ranks probably spoiled the appetite of most of the gathered. Jesus would, through divine knowledge, know exactly who was on his side, and who wasn’t.
More News
The Final Meal
The last meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples is a major event in Christianity. It is then clear why Renaissance painters were so enthused to painting the scene. But da Vinci would make a painting that was far more cryptic than his contemporaries’ works. Plenty of legends, debates, and conspiracy theories were borne of his special artwork. We would now like to talk about the hidden meanings that some people discovered in “The Last Supper”.
The Final Meal
Male Or Female?
While many theories circulate “The Last Supper”, there is one that has gained more traction than all the rest. Da Vinci was one artist that enjoyed painting men with androgynous looks, meaning that the viewer might wonder whether a certain figure was supposed to be female, or not. Just look closely at works by the master like “Bacchus” and “John the Baptist”. You could also take some theorists’ suggestions into consideration when looking at “The Last Supper”.
Male Or Female
Is John Someone Else?
There is one particularly androgynous character in the painting that is seated to Jesus’s left in “The Last Supper”. While the official and academic understanding of this figure is that it is indeed John, there might be some indication that someone else is seated at the table. If someone did not tell you who this figure was supposed to be, you might just confuse them for a woman, given their effeminate look and long, light-colored hair.
Is John Someone Else
The Controversial Novel
You might have read the highly controversial novel by the author Dan Brown, called The Da Vinci Code. In the story, it is claimed that Jesus was not celibate, as is commonly understood by Christians, but had a partner, called Mary Magdalene. This is who the theorists believe is seated next to Christ, and not John! Such a theory is not a huge leap, however, as Mary Magdalene was indeed incredibly close to Jesus Christ.
The Controversial Novel
More Than Friends?
According to Dan Brown, and those that have come to the same conclusion, da Vinci purposefully inserted Mary Magdalene into “The Last Supper”. Further, Dan Brown stated in his book that there are clues in the painting that suggest that Magdalene and Christ were married! The letter “M” is also said to have been inserted into the painting. While you might think that this letter is meant to mean “Mary Magdalene”, it could also stand for “Marriage”!
More Than Friends
Femminism In Religion
While Christianity is filled with many noble male figures, it also contains some famous female ones, with Mary Magdalene being one of the most popular. She was one of the most devoted followers of Jesus, and one attended his crucifixion. She was also one of the first people to announce Christ’s resurrection. For many Christians, she is considered to be the most important disciple of Christ. Still, it is considered highly inappropriate among Christianity to suggest that the two were romantically involved.
Femminism In Religion
Were They Involved?
So, even though many Christians would be offended if you suggested that Christ, the son of God, was in a relationship with Christ, is there any merit to the theory? Could the supposedly chaste and celibate religious leader have tied the knot with Mary Magdalene? We might never know, seeing as religious and academic leaders alike aren’t big fans of this possibility. But Brown’s ideas were not novel, by any means, as he borrowed other people’s theories.
Were They Involved
A Fan Of Confusion
While “The Last Supper” might be a divisive painting, that is not to say that da Vinci did not make other works of his puzzling, too. Let’s now turn our attention to another one of his famous paintings, “Mona Lisa”. This is a painting that is probably more famous than “The Last Supper”, given that people of all backgrounds can appreciate it, not just Christians. Da Vinci used a technique name sfumato, which is painting in a blurred and shadowy way.
A Fan Of Confusion
The Professional Opinion
Mario Taddei is one expert that rejected the theories put forward by Dan Brown in “The Da Vinci Code”. He claims that the painting’s positioning of characters does not remove it from the greater religious context and that he wasn’t trying to shake things up in Christianity. Certainly, da Vinci was not alone in painting scenes that illustrated events described in The New Testament. So, where do you stand? Do you think that Dan Brown and company have a point?
The Professional Opinion
Don’t Break The Rules
“Before Leonardo da Vinci, there were hundreds of ‘Last Suppers,’ and when he painted The Last Supper he had to follow some rules,” Mario Taddei shared with The Smithsonian. He continued by saying, “These rules want to have the people in that position and with that smile so that people could recognize the apostles one by one.” Was da Vinci a stickler for the rules, or a daring rebel that wanted to expose some hidden truth?
Dont Break The Rules
The Unsympathetic Critic
You can be sure that Mario Taddei was not a big fan of the Dan Brown novel. But Taddei had an interesting justification for the effeminate look of John. As mentioned before, da Vinci was following the rules and structure of this scene. While he understands why people would become suspicious, John’s figure had been painted this way by previous artists, and da Vinci was just toeing the line. John had been painted in a feminine way.
The Unsympathetic Critic
The Real Secret
Taddei did not dismiss all of the secrets regarding “The Last Supper”, however. He believed that da Vinci wished to impart a special message onto the viewer. Although it might not be as exciting as the thought of Jesus having had a partner, it is a meaningful one, nonetheless. People always want to hear about controversies and scandals, but this secret seems a lot safer. According to Taddei, there was something incredible regarding the halo!
The Real Secret
The Circle Of Light
While “The Last Supper” was being created, halos were often added to the heads of Jesus Christ and his disciples. This is the shining circle that shows that a figure is meant to be divine and holy. But while most of the disciples would be upgraded with a halo, Judas would not get one, due to his betrayal of Christ. Da Vinci made “The Last Supper” during an incredibly religious period, so you can imagine the surprise of his contemporaries when he unveiled a Christian painting with no halos!
The Circle Of Light
The True Mystery Revealed
If you had to compare da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” to other artists’ works showing the same scene, the lack of halos in da Vinci’s version becomes very obvious. According to Taddei, this was a deliberate omission. Da Vinci wished to show the Christians as “common people”. This is meant to be a grounded scene, with no mystical elements. The disciples and even Jesus himself were then ordinary, relatable people, according to da Vinci. Quite a powerful statement, wouldn’t you say?
The True Mystery Revealed