Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper

On 25th December people from all around the world will celebrate one of the most important dates in our calendar; ‘Christmas;’ and the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ that will be acted out in Nativity plays everywhere. Thinking of Jesus brings another story to mind, and that is the story of "Pietro Bandinelli

The story begins with the painting of Leonardo Da Vinci's great masterpiece, "The Last Supper." Long, and in vain, had the artist sought for a model for his Christ. "I must find a young man of pure life," he declared, "before I can get that look on the face I want." At length his attention was called to a young man who sang in the choir of one of the old churches of Rome, Pietro Bandinelli was his name. He was not only a young man of beautiful countenance, but his life was as beautiful as his face. The moment he looked upon this pure, sweet countenance the artist cried out in joy, "At last, I have found the face I wanted." So Pietro Bandinelli sat as the model for his picture of Christ.

Years passed on, and still the great painting, "The Last Supper," was not finished. The eleven faithful apostles had all been sketched on the canvas and the artist was hunting for a model for his Judas. "I must find a man whose face has hardened and distorted," he said, "a debased man, his features stamped with the ravages only excessive living and a wicked heart can show." Thus he wandered long, in search of his Judas until one day in the streets of Rome he came upon a wretched creature, a beggar in rags with a face of such hard villainous stamp that even the artist was repulsed. But he knew that at last he had found his Judas.

So it came about that the beggar with the repulsive countenance sat as the model for Judas. As he was dismissing him Da Vinci said, "I have not yet asked your name, but I will now." "Pietro Bandinelli," replied the man, looking at him unflinchingly. "I also sat to you as the model for your Christ." Astonished, overwhelmed by this startling declaration, Da Vinci would not at first believe it, but the proof was at hand and he had finally to admit that Pietro Bandinelli, he whose fair, sweet face had been the inspiration for his great masterpiece the face of Christ, had now become so disfigured by the sins of a lifetime that no trace was left of that marvellous beauty which before had been the admiration of men.

The moral is clear. But it is also true that no man sinks so low that he cannot be raised up again.