The Last Supper

Does it make me a cultural philistine if the first thing I thought of when I saw ‘The Last Supper’ in person is Lost and Battlestar Galactica?

I’m not an art lover.  I don’t ‘get’ art.  I just know what I think looks good and what I think looks like ass.  That being said, I’m in the same city as da Vinci’s masterpiece, made even more famous by that steaming pile of book ‘The da Vinci Code’, so why would I not go see it?

Pro-tip: it’s best to book a ticket in advance.  Well in advance.  If you try to walk up and buy one, you’ll probably be out of luck.

Walking into the refectory is an interesting experience.  To preserve the condition of ‘The Last Supper’ air temperature and humidity is strictly controlled.  Entering the refectory requires walking up to a closed set of glass doors, waiting for them to open and walking into a small room and up to another set of closed doors.  The doors you just passed through close, the set in front of you open, and you get to do it one more time before actually stepping into the refectory.

It is incredible that something painted over 500 years ago still exists in the condition that it’s in.  Yes, a lot of detail has been lost and the colours are not as bright as they once were, but can you think of something created in this decade that will still be around in half a millennia?  Yeah, neither could I.

All in all, it was something to be in that kind of history.  Also, there was a smaller plaster version for the visually impaired to touch, so they could get an idea of what the painting looked like.  I thought that was kinda cool.

Checked off the list.

 

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