The document provides details about Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting "The Last Supper" located in a church in Milan, Italy. It describes the painting's dimensions, technique, historical damage and repairs over centuries. It analyzes symbolism within the painting like groupings of apostles and references to the number three. It discusses theories about figures depicted and hidden messages or images believed to exist within the work.

1. “ Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me ”(from Biblia)…

2. Incidentally did you know that there are over 400,000 pages referring to this painting of which 50,000 also refer to Daniel Brown's book 'The Da Vinci Code'?

3. Physical apearance of the picture… The church ( Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan ), finished in 1482, was built in the gothic Lombard style and after 13 years Leonardo began “The Last Dinner” The painting measures 460 × 880 centimeters With nearly 400 colo u r reproductions Leonardo painted The Last Supper on a dry wall rather than on wet plaster, so it is not a true fresco

4. Attacks… As early as 1517 the painting was starting to flake ---- In 1768 a curtain was hung over the painting for the purpose of protection; ---- In 1796 French troops used the refectory as an armory ; they threw stones at the painting and climbed ladders to scratch out the Apostles' eyes ----During World War II , on August 15 , 1943 , the refectory was struck by a bomb ; protective sandbagging prevented the painting from being struck by bomb splinters, but it may have been damaged further by the vibration

5. Differences from previous pictures… Leonardo adopts the convention of seating the diners on one side of the table, so that none of them have their backs to the viewer Previous depictions had typically excluded Judas by placing him alone on the opposite side of the table. Another technique commonly used was placing halos around all the disciples except Judas Judas takes the bread at the same time as Jesus

6. Forthcoming crucifixion… It is believed that Jesus' feet were in a position symbolizing the forthcoming crucifixion

7. The Last Supper specifically portrays the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said one of them would betray him. All apostles have different reactions to the news, with various degrees of anger and shock.

8. Apostles… The evidence for this comes from a contemporary document discovered in 19 th century which gives the names of each person in the picture

10. The secret of 3… The painting contains several references to the number 3, which may be an allusion to the Holy Trinity. The Apostles are seated in groupings of three; there are three windows behind Jesus; and the shape of Jesus' figure resembles a triangle

11. Judas in the picture… Judas is wearing green and blue and is in shadow, looking rather withdrawn and taken aback by the sudden revelation of his plan. He is clutching a small bag, perhaps signifying the silver given to him as payment to betray Jesus, or perhaps a reference to his role within the 12 disciples as treasurer. He is the only person to have his elbow on the table; traditionally a sign of bad manners

12. On the table… Giovanni Maria Pala, an Italian musician, has indicated that the positions of hands and loaves of bread can be interpreted as notes on a musical staff, and if read from right to left, as was characteristic of Da Vinci's writing, form a musical composition. There are twelve glasses shown to be present, each containing a red wine. It would be normal to drink wine with the meal - water was often contaminated. There is no sign of lamb which would traditionally have been eaten at the passover.

13. Necklace… Is that a necklace around 'John's' neck? If so - whatever happened to ' go, sell what you possess and give to the poor '

14. John maybe -Mary ?... Some writers identify the person to Jesus' right not with the Apostle John but with Mary Magdalene John to be a very boyish or feminine looking figure with long fair hair he is often shown asleep against Jesus's shoulder

15. Eyebrows on the Mona Lisa…

16. The Slavisa Pesci theory … Slavisa Pesci caused a huge increase in traffic to Last Supper websites when he announced that by superimposing a semi-transparent mirror image of The Last Supper over the original then new features would be revealed. The claim is that:

17. Results … * A figure would be revealed holding a baby * A chalice would appear in front of Christ * A figure would appear resembling a Templar knight

20. The Knife… If that knife is being held by John/Mary then he/she has arms like a gorilla! Would Leonardo have made a mistake like this? There's also the evidence of John/Mary's fingers intertwined in front of him/her! .

21. This suggestion assumes that the feminine figure at the right in the image is Mary Magdalene. In that case John, the youngest of the disciples is missing. The idea is that the hand belongs to John who is obscured by Peter and Judas. I find this very unlikely. If it were true - where exactly would John be? Maybe he dropped his glass?