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Milan
Priory of Santa Maria delle Grazie
A brief description.
Milan owes its fortune of possessing the magnificent Renaissance church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and one of the greatest works of Italian painting, the Last Supper, in the annexed priory refectory, to none other than Ludovico il Moro. And in spite of extensive damage, extraordinarily beautiful portions of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece can be enjoyed today thanks to the last restoration.
Santa Maria delle Grazie: a church for Ludovico il Moro. Though he was merely an acting duke and did not become one in name until the death of his nephew, the legitimate duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza, Ludovico il Moro chose the Dominican church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, - connected with the priory, founded by Dominic of Catalogna (ca 1410-1477/78) between 1451 and 1466 -, in 1463, as the mausoleum for himself and his family.
Only a decade after the completion of the Lombard Gothic style church by Guiniforte Solari, construction began in 1492 on a new and gigantic chancel topped by a decorated dome projected by Bramante, who also designed the marble doorway, the old sacristy and the small cloister "of the frogs." Frescoes by Lombard Renaissance masters Butinone, Zenale and Gaudenzio Ferrari ornate the interior.
Meanwhile, beginning in 1494, Leonardo da Vinci himself was summoned to work on the church and to "fresco" the north wall of the refectory. Leonardo finished his fresco Last Supper (420x910 cm) in April 1498, a year before the French entered Milan and ended the grandiose funerary projects of Ludovico il Moro.
As the seat of the Inquisition trials beginning in 1553, Santa Maria delle Grazie was well preserved. Leonardo's Last Supper, however, was so heavily deteriorated that only a blotch was visible, (Giorgio Vasari in 1568). Nevertheless, the "Last Supper", together with the "Crucifixion" frescoed by Montorfano on the opposite wall, managed to survive World War II bombings that brought down the rest of the refectory.
The last restoration, conducted by Pinin Brambilla Barcilon under the auspices of Milan's Superintendent for Artistic and Historic Heritage, took over 20 years and was completed in 1999.
Philately
The Last supper, fresco by Leonardo da Vinci (15.04.1452-02.05.1519), ordered by Ludovico Sforza, 1495- February 1428, tempera on stone, 420 x 910 cm., for the refectory of the Dominican priory Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of Graces) in Milan.
Ajman 1972, Mi Bl 496.
The Last supper, fresco by Leonardo da Vinci
(15.04.1452-02.05.1519), ordered by Ludovico Sforza, 1495-february 1428, tempera on stone, (420 x 910 cm) for the refectory of the Dominican priory Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of Graces) in Milan.
Cyprus 1981, Mi 550, Sc 563.
The Last supper, fresco by Leonardo da Vinci (15.04.1452-02.05.1519), ordered by Ludovico Sforza, 1495-february 1428, tempera on stone, (420 x 910 cm) for the refectory of the Dominican priory Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of Graces) in Milan.
Fujeira 1970, Mi Bl 30; Sc --
Church Santa Maria delle Grazie of the
Dominican priory in Milan.
Italian Republic 1944-1945, Mi 661, Sc R31.
500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last supper (1498-1598), in the refectory of the Dominican priory Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.
Italy 1998, Mi 2556, Sc 2200.
Postmark, Milan 04.04.1998: the same fresco.
The Last supper, fresco by Leonardo da Vinci (15.04.1452-02.05.1519), ordered by Ludovico Sforza, 1495-february 1428, tempera on stone, 420 x 910 cm, for the refectory of the Dominican priory Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of Graces) in Milan.
Liberia 1969, Mi 719, Sc 493.
The Last supper, fresco by Leonardo da Vinci (15.04.1452-02.05.1519), made at order of Ludovico Sforza, (1495-FFebruary 1428), tempera on stone, 420 x 910 cm, for the refectory of the Dominican priory Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of Graces) in Milan.
Paraguay 1967, Mi 1690, Bl 97; Sc 107a.
Supplements:
Saint Thomas and Prince Islands 2003, Mi Bl 421, Sc On order.
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