Ross King on Leonardo da Vinci and The Last Supper

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One of the most famous paintings in the world is Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” painted on the wall of a Dominican convent in Milan in the 1490s.  Surprisingly, da Vinci didn’t start his masterpiece until he was in his 40s –  old age by 15th century standards – and before that, author  ROSS KING explains, da Vinci hadn’t produced much — a few paintings, some strange musical instruments and hundreds of notes and sketches of inventions to his name.  In his new book, “Leonardo and The Last Supper,” King writes that “Leonardo may have dreamed of constructing tanks and guns, of placing a dome on Milan’s half-built cathedral, or of completing the world’s largest bronze statue. But he was going to do none of these things. Instead, he was going to paint a wall.”  That wall is one of the most recognized and beloved images in art today. This hour, Marty talks with Ross King about Leonardo’s creation, his genius and his life.

Photo credit: Flickr user ideacreamanuelaPps

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