Identifier: greatpicturesassx00sing (find matches)
Title: Great pictures, as seen and described by famous writers
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Singleton, Esther, d. 1930, ed. and tr
Subjects: Painting
Publisher: New York : Dodd, Mead and Company
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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ten feet above the floor thethirteen figures, each one half larger than life-size, occupya space twenty-eight Parisian feet long. Only two ofthese can be seen at full length at the opposite ends of thetable, the others are half-figures, and here, too, the artistfound great advantage in the conditions. Every moral ex-pression belongs solely to the upper part of the body, andthe feet, in such cases, are always in the way; the artisthas created here eleven half-figures, whose laps and kneesare hidden by the table and table-cloth under which thefeet in the deep shadow are scarcely visible. Now, let us transport ourselves to this place and room,imagine the extreme moral repose which reigns in such amonastic dining-hall, and marvel at the strong emotion andimpassioned action that the painter has put into his picturewhilst he has kept his work of art close to nature, bringingit immediately in contrast with the neighbouring actualscene. The exciting means which the artist employed to agitate
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THE LAST SUPPER 291 the tranquil and holy Supper-Table are the Masters words : There is one amongst you that betrays me. The wordsare spoken, and the entire company falls into consternation ;but He inclines His head with downcast looks ; the wholeattitude, the motion of the arms, the hands, and everythingrepeat with heavenly resignation which the silence itselfconfirms, Verily, verily, there is one amongst you thatbetrays Me. Before going any farther we must point out a greatexpedient, by means of which Leonardo principally ani-mated this picture : it is the motion of the hands ; only anItalian would have discovered this. With his nation thewhole body is expressive, all the limbs take part in describ-ing an emotion, not only passion but also thought. Byvarious gestures he can express : What do I care ? — Come here ! — This is a rascal, beware of him ! He shall not live long ! This is a main point. Takeheed of this, my hearers! To such a national trait,Leonardo, who observed every

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