Last Supper 1476

Domenico Ghirlandaio completed this fresco of the Last Supper sometime before his death in 1494, using materials and processes typical of the Italian Renaissance. Like other frescoes, this work was created by applying pigments to wet plaster, a technique demanding speed and precision. The inherent qualities of the plaster, its texture and absorbency, dictate the application of the paint and the appearance of the final image. Ghirlandaio employed a team of assistants, a common practice in large-scale projects like this. The division of labor, with the master artist likely focusing on key figures while apprentices filled in backgrounds, reveals the economic realities of artistic production at the time. The fresco medium itself has social implications. A laborious and permanent medium, frescoes were typically commissioned by wealthy patrons or institutions, reflecting the power dynamics of the era. So while the subject is a moment of communion and humility, the very making of the work speaks to social hierarchies. Ultimately, understanding both the materials and making processes brings us closer to the social context in which this Last Supper was created.