MORE ON CASTAGNO'S LAST SUPPER

[weissm...@bvc.edu]

I recently posted something here on the internet dealing with Andrea
del Castagno and the emotion that I feel his "Last Supper" generates. Many
people disagreed with me, saying that this painting makes the apostles seem
"bored and uninterested," and that the composition is too "horizontal."
Many of the people also pointed out that Da Vinci's "Last Supper" does a
better job of portraying the feeling and emotion that probably went along
with this actual event.
I will agree that DaVinci's "Last Supper" gives the apostles enthusiasm
by showing their gestures and movements. However, take a close look at
each apostle's face and hand gestures in Castagno's version. You will see
that (although a first glance of the whole painting makes it appear boring
and rather motionless) each apostle has so much emotion within himself that
he is too distraught even to speak. For example, look at St. Thaddeus
(third one from the right). He has his hands raised as though he is
fending off the truth, while a look of desperation floods his face. All of
the other disciples have similar expressions which are all very effective.
I don't think it is fair to glance at a painting quickly, notice that
it is arranged in a horizontal fashion, and say that it contains little
emotion. Actually, I think the balanced symmetry of the painting makes it
even more intriguing because then I see a great contrast when I focus on a
specific disciple and notice the emotion that is portrayed.
I would also like to add, and as a couple people pointed out in their
responses to me, that DaVinci's "Last Supper" and Castagno's "Last Supper"
may be taking place at different moments during the actual Last Supper. To
me, it appears that in Castagno's, Christ has told them and has now come to
the point of blessing the wine..."This is my blood...." These apostles
have had time to think it over, and the grief is just setting in. In Da
Vinci's, however, it appears that it is the exact moment that Christ has
spilled the bad news -- I don't feel that these apostles have had time to
grieve and therefore do not appear as grief-stricken as Castagno's do.
That's just my opinion, but maybe I'm way off!! Anybody agree or
disagree? Thank you for all of your comments. Even though I really
didn't agree with most of them, they did make me take a second look. And
as someone pointed out to me -- "it is hard to get a real feeling for these
frescos without seeing them in their natural surroundings."

weissm...@bvc.edu