Renaissance Nun's 'Last Supper' Painting

[mellowyellow]

The 21-foot canvas, created by self-taught artist and nun Plautilla Nelli, is now on view in Florence

Around 1568, Florentine nun Plautilla Nelli—a self-taught painter who ran an all-woman artists’ workshop out of her convent—embarked on her most ambitious project yet: a monumental Last Supper scene featuring life-size depictions of Jesus and the 12 Apostles.

Per the nonprofit Advancing Women Artists organization, which restores and exhibits works by Florence’s female artists, Nelli’s masterpiece placed her among the ranks of such painters as Leonardo da Vinci, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Pietro Perugino, all of whom created versions of the Last Supper “to prove their prowess as art professionals.”…….

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...st-supper-scene-goes-view-florence-180973374/

 

[Aunt Marg]

I just LOVE Renaissance artwork and pieces!

 

[mellowyellow]

Was Mary Magdalene at the Last Supper?​

In "The Last Supper," the figure at Christ's right arm does not possess an easily-identified gender. He's not bald, or bearded, or anything we visually associate with "masculinity." In fact, he looks feminine. As a result, some people (like the novelist Dan Brown in "The Da Vinci Code") have speculated that Da Vinci wasn't depicting John at all, but rather Mary Magdalene. There are three very good reasons why Leonardo was likely not depicting Mary Magdalene.

1. Mary Magdalene wasn't at the Last Supper.........

https://www.thoughtco.com/john-or-mary-magdalene-last-supper-182499#:~:text=In%20%22The%20Last%20Supper%2C%22,possess%20an%20easily%2Didentified%20gender.&text=Mary%20Magdalene%20wasn't%20at,any%20of%20the%20four%20Gospels.

 

[RadishRose]

View attachment 144974
The 21-foot canvas, created by self-taught artist and nun Plautilla Nelli, is now on view in Florence

Around 1568, Florentine nun Plautilla Nelli—a self-taught painter who ran an all-woman artists’ workshop out of her convent—embarked on her most ambitious project yet: a monumental Last Supper scene featuring life-size depictions of Jesus and the 12 Apostles.

Per the nonprofit Advancing Women Artists organization, which restores and exhibits works by Florence’s female artists, Nelli’s masterpiece placed her among the ranks of such painters as Leonardo da Vinci, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Pietro Perugino, all of whom created versions of the Last Supper “to prove their prowess as art professionals.”…….

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...st-supper-scene-goes-view-florence-180973374/

Beautiful. I'm enjoying the website, too!

 

[RadishRose]

Was Mary Magdalene at the Last Supper?​

In "The Last Supper," the figure at Christ's right arm does not possess an easily-identified gender. He's not bald, or bearded, or anything we visually associate with "masculinity." In fact, he looks feminine. As a result, some people (like the novelist Dan Brown in "The Da Vinci Code") have speculated that Da Vinci wasn't depicting John at all, but rather Mary Magdalene. There are three very good reasons why Leonardo was likely not depicting Mary Magdalene.

1. Mary Magdalene wasn't at the Last Supper.........

https://www.thoughtco.com/john-or-mary-magdalene-last-supper-182499#:~:text=In%20%22The%20Last%20Supper%2C%22,possess%20an%20easily%2Didentified%20gender.&text=Mary%20Magdalene%20wasn't%20at,any%20of%20the%20four%20Gospels.

Awwww nooo! I am one who believes it was her!

 

[Warrigal]

View attachment 144974
The 21-foot canvas, created by self-taught artist and nun Plautilla Nelli, is now on view in Florence

Around 1568, Florentine nun Plautilla Nelli—a self-taught painter who ran an all-woman artists’ workshop out of her convent—embarked on her most ambitious project yet: a monumental Last Supper scene featuring life-size depictions of Jesus and the 12 Apostles.

Per the nonprofit Advancing Women Artists organization, which restores and exhibits works by Florence’s female artists, Nelli’s masterpiece placed her among the ranks of such painters as Leonardo da Vinci, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Pietro Perugino, all of whom created versions of the Last Supper “to prove their prowess as art professionals.”…….

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...st-supper-scene-goes-view-florence-180973374/

Fascinating. The first thing that struck me was the tablecloth. The evidence of it being ironed and folded stands out and shouts "convent" to me. There also seem to be flowers laid on the table that also point to a woman's view. The figure on Jesus left is to me unambiguously female. Compare the jawline with the unbearded man on his far right.