Last Supper Frescoes of Florence

Destination: Florence, Italy

Travel guidebook summary

Painted onto the walls of monastic dining rooms in the 14-16th centuries, Florence’s Last Supper frescoes were designed to inspire contemplation on the Christian faith’s greatest mysteries. We take you on a tour of nine of the best in the city.

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I am an Italiophile and long time student of Art History and Italian Art, this book is one of the most enjoyable books I have read which I will keep returning to. I also note the authors have produced others of great interest in other areas. I will be reading more of this series. EXCELLENT!

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Message from the author

“One of my favorites, this off-the-beaten-path itinerary reveals the artistic heart of this city. Our decision to focus on the unifying theme of Leonardo’s Last Supper gives a whole new way to look at one of the most familiar religious depictions in Christian art.“

Jennifer Raezer | Founder & Author, Approach Guides

Florence Frescoes: About this Guidebook

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Guidebook Description

Painted onto the walls of monastic dining rooms in the 14th-16th centuries, Florence’s Last Supper frescoes were designed to inspire contemplation on the Christian faith’s greatest mysteries. Still well preserved and quickly toured on any visit to the city, they hold much of their original magic. They are yours to uncover.

What’s in this guidebook

A tour that goes deeper. Following our tradition of being the most valuable resource for culture-focused travelers, we provide a detailed tour of nine of Florence’s most important Last Supper frescoes executed over a 250-year period by artists Gaddi, Orcagna, Ghirlandaio, Castagno, Perugino, Franciabigio, Sarto and Allori. The tour walks you through the highlights, aided by high-resolution images and a discussion that ties it all together.
The influence of Leonardo’s Last Supper. We also profile Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper fresco in Milan (1496-1498), pointing out how its innovations went on to shape later Florentine representations. Since Leonardo’s work occurs roughly at the midpoint of our timeline of reference, we can assess frescoes before and after its completion, clearly discerning its impact.
Advice for getting the best cultural experience. To help you plan your visit, this guidebook offers logistical advice and provides links to online resources. Plus, we provide our personal tips for getting the most from your experience while on location.
Information the way you like it. As with all of our guides, this book is optimized for intuitive, quick navigation; information is organized into bullet points to make absorption easy; and images are marked up with text that explains important features.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Introduction to Last Supper Frescoes

The Narratives

The Setting

The Impact of Leonardo

A Review of the Fresco

Leonardo’s Innovations

Stylistic Impact on Florence Versions

Last Supper Fresco Tour

Santa Croce by Gaddi *
Santo Spirito by Orcagna

Stylistic Break: Gothic to Renaissance

Sant’Apollonia by Castagno *
Ognissanti by Ghirlandaio *
San Marco by Ghirlandaio
Fuligno Conservatory by Perugino *

Stylistic Break: Leonardo’s Last Supper

Convento della Calza by Franciabigio
San Salvi by Sarto *
Santa Maria del Carmine by Allori

Continuing Travel in Italy

Our Recommendations

Where to Stay, Eat and Shop

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