On a recent Saturday morning I visited this incredible fresco that is still in situ and has never suffered any bombing (unlike Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan). I posted about that very enjoyable day not long ago and today comes the scholarly version, because this gorgeous painting deserves that much and more.

Christ gives the piece of bread to Judas above. This is an unusual portrayal of the theme of the Last Supper; usually Judas is portrayed on the opposite side of the table from Christ and with his back towards the viewer.

Moving back to Christ at the center, we now move from left to right along this side.

At the top of the arch that surrounds the lunette shaped fresco by Andrea, is his highly unusual depiction of the Trinity. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like it. It reminds me of sculptures of the Janus head in Roman art.

Directly above Christ, this genre scene shows everyday figures from the early 1500s. Am I correct in positing that we have a Florentine in orange who is bothering a servant for the monastery who probably just delivered some food? What is your interpretation?

One of the great things about this museum is that facsimiles of del Sarto red pencil drawings done in preparation for the fresco are exhibited in the same room. These treasured studies are in the Uffizi Museum collection. I choose this drawing to show you, because it reveals the artist’s process. Compare the drawing with the appropriate section of the fresco, further below, for an understanding of his approach. It’s very interesting.

One of the best things about living in Florence is the knowledge that masterpieces like this fresco are almost infinitely available. That thought and feeling is the best thing in the world for me.