Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia (Sant'Apollonia Museum: "Last Supper" fresco), Florence
The Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia is a museum that forms part of the monastery of the Benedictines of Sant'Apollonia 鈥� Florence's largest female monastery, founded in 1339. Its main attraction is the former refectory (or dining hall), where visitors can admire a well-conserved "Last Supper" fresco created by Andrea del Castagno, a prominent Renaissance artist from Florence whose work was greatly influenced by Masaccio and Giotto, the latter being recognized as the preeminent master of painting in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
The fresco, painted around 1447, spans the entire length of the west wall, with the upper section depicting scenes of the Resurrection, Crucifixion, and Deposition. When these upper frescoes were discovered in 1861, they were covered in white plaster and poorly preserved. Due to humidity damage, the decision was made to remove the affected upper part, revealing significant sinopias (preliminary drawings in reddish-brown pigment) that were eventually detached and repositioned on the opposite wall.
"The Last Supper" is portrayed as taking place within a small structure resembling an imperial triclinium, as described in the writings of Leon Battista Alberti. The front wall of the triclinium is absent, allowing viewers to observe the interior.
The dinner scene unfolds in a lavishly decorated room, exuding refined elegance. Jesus and the apostles are seated on a raised bench along a long table adorned with a white tablecloth. Judas is positioned opposite them, seated on a stool. It is common in iconography to separate Judas from the other figures, though usually he is placed to the right of Jesus rather than the left. Notably, Judas' profiled figure with a beard resembles that of a satyr in Roman mythology, from which Christians borrowed many of the physical characteristics associated with the devil. Another traditional element in the Florentine context is the presence of the sleeping St. John, next to Christ.
In addition to the remarkable "Last Supper", the museum exhibits other frescoes and works by artists such as Castagno, Neri di Bicci, Paolo Schiavo, and Raffaello da Montelupo 鈥� an accomplished sculptor and architect of the Renaissance, apprentice of Michelangelo.
The fresco, painted around 1447, spans the entire length of the west wall, with the upper section depicting scenes of the Resurrection, Crucifixion, and Deposition. When these upper frescoes were discovered in 1861, they were covered in white plaster and poorly preserved. Due to humidity damage, the decision was made to remove the affected upper part, revealing significant sinopias (preliminary drawings in reddish-brown pigment) that were eventually detached and repositioned on the opposite wall.
"The Last Supper" is portrayed as taking place within a small structure resembling an imperial triclinium, as described in the writings of Leon Battista Alberti. The front wall of the triclinium is absent, allowing viewers to observe the interior.
The dinner scene unfolds in a lavishly decorated room, exuding refined elegance. Jesus and the apostles are seated on a raised bench along a long table adorned with a white tablecloth. Judas is positioned opposite them, seated on a stool. It is common in iconography to separate Judas from the other figures, though usually he is placed to the right of Jesus rather than the left. Notably, Judas' profiled figure with a beard resembles that of a satyr in Roman mythology, from which Christians borrowed many of the physical characteristics associated with the devil. Another traditional element in the Florentine context is the presence of the sleeping St. John, next to Christ.
In addition to the remarkable "Last Supper", the museum exhibits other frescoes and works by artists such as Castagno, Neri di Bicci, Paolo Schiavo, and Raffaello da Montelupo 鈥� an accomplished sculptor and architect of the Renaissance, apprentice of Michelangelo.
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Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia (Sant'Apollonia Museum: "Last Supper" fresco) on Map
Sight Name: Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia (Sant'Apollonia Museum: "Last Supper" fresco)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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