Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), The Last Supper
Color print on paper, limited edition—300 pieces
Sheet dimensions: 50 × 65 cm
Number: 50/300 (in pencil, top left); bottom right: facsimile of the signature
At the bottom, a dry stamp of the publisher “Shakespeare Art”
On the reverse, a hologram certifying the authenticity of the publication
Condition: very good

Leonardo da Vinci, who lived from 1452 to 1519, was the archetypal Renaissance man, whose multifaceted genius spanned painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, and anatomy. As an artist, he went down in history for his revolutionary use of chiaroscuro and the sfumato technique, which allowed him to create such iconic works as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. His curiosity about the world, however, extended far beyond the realm of art, leading him to pioneer research into the structure of the human body and to design machines that were hundreds of years ahead of their time, including prototypes of helicopters, tanks, and hydraulic systems. He immortalized most of his discoveries and reflections in voluminous codices written in mirror script, which to this day serve as proof that, for Leonardo, science and art formed an inseparable unity, based on a profound observation of nature.