Volume Volume1\Studies and Sketches for Pictures and Decorations
Entry# 665.
Contents: Vol. 1 | Vol. 2
Notes on the Last Supper (665-668).
One who was drinking and has left the glass in its position and
turned his head towards the speaker.
Another, twisting the fingers of his hands together turns with stern
brows to his companion 6 . Another with his hands spread open shows
the palms, and shrugs his shoulders up his ears making a mouth of
astonishment 8 .
9 Another speaks into his neighbour's ear and he, as he listens to
him, turns towards him to lend an ear 10 , while he holds a knife
in one hand, and in the other the loaf half cut through by the
knife. 13 Another who has turned, holding a knife in his hand,
upsets with his hand a glass on the table 14 .
Footnote 665, 666: In the original MS. there is no sketch to
accompany these passages, and if we compare them with those drawings
made by Leonardo in preparation for the composition of the
picture--Pl. XLV, XLVI--, (compare also Pl. LII, 1 and the drawings
on p. 297) it is impossible to recognise in them a faithful
interpretation of the whole of this text; but, if we compare these
passages with the finished picture (see p. 334) we shall see that in
many places they coincide. For instance, compare No. 665, 1. 6--8,
with the fourth figure on the right hand of Christ. The various
actions described in lines 9--10, 13--14 are to be seen in the group
of Peter, John and Judas; in the finished picture however it is not
a glass but a salt cellar that Judas is upsetting.
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