The Last Supper
The artist
Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian Renaissance master who painted this on a monastery wall in Milan.
What you see
Jesus shares a final meal with his twelve friends, seated together at a long table just after he has spoken to them.
The story
Finished around 1498, it is one of the most studied paintings ever, and it has survived wars, damp walls, and centuries of careful repair.
The style
Leonardo arranged everyone in groups and used lines that all point toward Jesus, so your eye is gently led to the center.
Look closer
Notice how the friends react in small groups, each with a different gesture and feeling on their face.
Where to see it
It still covers a wall in the dining hall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, where only a few visitors enter at a time.
Fun fact
Leonardo tried a new paint recipe that did not stick well, so the picture began to fade during his own lifetime.