Leonardo da Vinci was raised in the small town of Vinci. His mother was a peasant woman named Piero da Vinci. His father who was a lawyer raised him. At the young age of 15 he began to apprentice under Andrea del Verocchio. In 1482 Leonardo left for Milan and became an official artist for the Duke. He had several sketches and written records that suggested he was a sculptor. Many of his paintings, which are small in number, are unfinished which is largely due to his impatient manner of switching from one subject to another.
The Last Supper is known as the symbol of western art. The Last Supper is located on the wall of the refectory in the Dominican Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Leonardo was developing the ideas for The Last Supper for over 15 years. He began this work in 1495 and finished three years later, in 1497. This was one piece that Leonardo was completely dedicated to; he would work on this piece from the beginning of the day until dusk. Matteo Bandello remarked on his style of working, " He would often come to the convent at early dawn"¦ hastily mounting the scaffolding, he worked diligently till the shades of evening compelled him to cease, never thinking of food at all, so absorbed was he in his work." Leonardo da Vinci became known as the "man of the renaissance," due to his style of work and many of his pieces.
The Last Supper depicts the final gathering of Jesus Christ with his disciples on the eve of the institution of the Holy Eucharist. This will be the last meal in which they share before