Leonardo Da Vinci’S the Last Supper Originally Included Jesus’ Feet

Like peering through history's keyhole, you might be surprised to learn that one of art's greatest mysteries involves Jesus' feet. When da Vinci completed "The Last Supper" in 1498, his masterpiece included Christ's feet – a detail that vanished centuries later. You're probably wondering what happened to this essential element and how it changed the painting's entire meaning. The story behind those missing feet reveals an unexpected architectural decision that transformed this iconic work forever.

The Original Masterpiece: Setting the Scene

When Ludovico Sforza commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint The Last Supper in 1495, he set in motion the creation of one of history's most famous artworks.

You'll find this masterpiece on the north wall of Milan's Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery, where it spans an impressive 460 cm × 880 cm.

The artistic context of the time typically called for religious themes in dining halls, though this room wasn't actually a refectory when Leonardo painted it. The artist used an innovative one-point perspective centered on Christ's head to create depth.

What makes this piece special is how Leonardo broke from tradition. Instead of focusing purely on religious symbolism, he brought humanity to the scene.

You won't see any halos above the apostles' heads, and he used local townspeople as models. The painting creates a unique connection between the real space of the room and the painted scene. Leonardo employed a unique method using tempera on dry plaster rather than traditional fresco techniques.

The Missing Feet Mystery

Among the most intriguing aspects of The Last Supper's history lies a dramatic architectural change that forever altered the masterpiece. In 1652, monks cut a doorway through the bottom of the painting to create easier access to their dining area. This modification removed Jesus' feet, which became one of the work's most notable missing elements.

You'll find that these missing feet carry deep symbolic significance. Some scholars suggest their absence represents Christ's humanity or foreshadows his crucifixion. The copy at the Royal Academy of Arts, painted by Leonardo's pupils, provides an important historical record of the complete work.

While the doorway was later filled in, the damage couldn't be undone. Today, you can see digital reconstructions of the complete work, including Jesus' sandaled feet, thanks to efforts like Google Arts & Culture's billion-pixel imaging project and historical copies by Leonardo's assistants, particularly Giampietrino's version at London's Royal Academy of Arts. The deterioration of the painting had already begun before the doorway was cut, as steam and soot from the nearby kitchen and candles had begun to damage the artwork.

Historical Evidence and Early Copies

Several invaluable early copies of The Last Supper help us understand Leonardo's original masterpiece in remarkable detail.

You'll find three significant copies that reveal lost elements of Leonardo's artistic techniques – two are nearly as large as the original, and they're incredibly detailed.

The most important copy is at London's Royal Academy, created by Giampietrino around 1515-1520. It's preserved essential details that you can't see clearly in the original anymore, like Christ's feet and the spilled salt cellar.

What's especially valuable about these early copies is their color preservation – they show you exactly how Leonardo used his colors before they faded.

You can see Judas clutching a money bag and the landscape through the windows, details that have deteriorated in the original fresco.

Another remarkable copy can be found in the Church of St. Ambrogio in Ponte Capriasca, Switzerland.

The painting's susceptibility to damage was due to Leonardo using tempera on gesso instead of traditional fresco techniques.

Architectural Changes That Altered History

Throughout the centuries, significant architectural changes to the Santa Maria delle Grazie refectory have dramatically impacted Leonardo's masterpiece.

You'll find the architectural significance most evident in the 1652 modification, when workers cut a door through the lower part of the mural, destroying Jesus' feet. The historical context of these changes reflects the building's evolving needs, as the refectory was repurposed multiple times. During World War II, the monastery endured severe bombing damage. UNESCO recognized the historical and artistic importance of the site when they designated it as a World Heritage site in 1980.

You can see how raising the floor level further obscured the painting's bottom portion, while enlarged windows altered the natural light that once illuminated the artwork.

Today's viewing experience differs greatly from what 15th-century visitors witnessed. The building's structural changes have shifted viewing perspectives, and you'll notice modern interventions like climate control systems and specialized lighting that now protect this iconic work.

Impact on the Painting's Interpretation

When the refectory's door was cut through Jesus's feet in 1652, it dramatically changed how viewers interpret The Last Supper.

You'll notice that without the feet, the symbolic representation of Jesus's servant leadership and humility is diminished, since feet played a vital role in Christian art.

The missing feet shift your focus upward to Christ's face and upper body, creating a different visual experience than da Vinci intended.

The painting's unique use of tempera on gesso rather than traditional fresco techniques made it particularly vulnerable to such structural modifications.

Today's viewers can only spend fifteen minutes observing the altered masterpiece, making the loss of the feet even more significant.

You're no longer able to see the traditional wounds from the crucifixion that were typically shown on Jesus's feet, which affects the painting's theological significance.

The alteration also changes how you understand the spatial depth and composition of the scene.

When you look at the painting now, you're seeing a modified version that's lost important elements of its original religious symbolism.

Modern Preservation and What Remains Today

Despite intensive restoration efforts, only about 20% of Leonardo da Vinci's original work on The Last Supper remains visible today.

The massive 29×15 ft mural demonstrates the sheer scale of what conservators must protect and maintain.

You'll find that modern preservation combines careful restoration techniques with strict environmental controls to protect what's left of this masterpiece.

Leonardo's use of dry tempera instead of traditional fresco techniques contributed heavily to the painting's early deterioration.

• A 20-year restoration project completed in 1999 used infrared scanning and x-ray fluorescence to examine hidden damage
• Climate control systems and limited visitor access help maintain stable conditions
• Conservators used special watercolors to fill in lost sections, making them distinct from Leonardo's work

When you visit the painting today, you'll see the results of these preservation efforts.

While half of the original paint surface survives, experts can now show you exactly which parts are authentic and which were restored.

The colors are more vibrant, but they'll need constant monitoring to stay that way.