Church History · 1495 to 1512

The Last Supper, the Sistine Chapel and the Sistine Madonna

In less than twenty years, three artists painted some of the most famous Bible scenes ever made. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Last Supper in Milan around 1495 to 1498, Michelangelo covered the Sistine Chapel ceiling with Genesis from 1508 to 1512, and Raphael painted the Sistine Madonna for a church in Piacenza starting in 1512.

Read it in the Bible: Matthew 26:21 Genesis 1:27 Luke 1:46-48 Psalm 19:1

Between about 1495 and 1513, three Italian artists created some of the most famous paintings in the world, and all three are Bible scenes. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Last Supper on a wall in Milan around 1495 to 1498. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome with the story of Genesis from 1508 to 1512. And Raphael painted the Sistine Madonna, Mary holding the baby Jesus, which was commissioned in 1512. For centuries, paintings like these were how millions of people pictured the Bible. Here is the story behind each one.

Why Did the Church Fill Its Buildings With Bible Art?

For most of history, most people could not read, and Bibles were rare and expensive. Around the year 600, Pope Gregory the Great wrote that pictures in churches let those who cannot read see what they could not read in books. Stained glass, carvings and paintings became a kind of Bible for everyone. You can read about Gregory in his article on this site.

By the Renaissance, artists were also studying the human body, light and perspective as never before. They wanted their Bible scenes to feel real, as if you were standing in the room. The result was art that still stops people in their tracks.

When Did Leonardo Paint the Last Supper?

Leonardo da Vinci painted the Last Supper around 1495 to 1498 for the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. It covers the end wall of the dining hall of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, so the monks ate their meals with Jesus and the apostles at the head of the room.

Leonardo chose the dramatic moment just after Jesus says one of the disciples will betray Him.

And while they were eating, He said to them, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me." Matthew 26:21

The twelve react in groups of three, shocked, arguing and asking, is it I? Judas sits among them, leaning back into shadow and gripping a money bag. Jesus sits calm in the center, framed by the window behind Him, with lines of the room pointing straight to His head.

Leonardo did not use true fresco, which is paint applied to wet plaster. He painted on a dry wall so he could work slowly and add detail. Sadly, that method did not last, and the paint began flaking within his own lifetime. The mural also survived war damage, including a bomb that hit the building in 1943. A long restoration finished in 1999.

Some popular novels claim the young figure beside Jesus is Mary Magdalene. Art historians identify him as the apostle John, who in art of that time was usually shown young and beardless.

How Long Did Michelangelo Take to Paint the Sistine Chapel?

Pope Julius II hired Michelangelo in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the pope's private chapel in the Vatican. Michelangelo saw himself as a sculptor, not a painter, and did not really want the job. He took it anyway and worked on it until 1512. The finished ceiling was shown to the public on October 31, 1512.

Down the center are nine scenes from Genesis, from God separating light from darkness, through the creation of Adam and Eve, the fall, and the flood, to Noah's drunkenness. Around them sit giant figures of Old Testament prophets and of sibyls, prophetesses from ancient pagan legend that medieval Christians believed had hinted at Christ.

The most famous panel is the Creation of Adam, with God's finger reaching toward Adam's, almost touching.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

A popular myth says Michelangelo painted lying on his back. In fact he stood on a scaffold and painted overhead, bending backward for hours. He wrote a funny poem complaining about his aching neck and paint dripping on his face. Anyone who has painted a ceiling can relate. Decades later he returned to paint the Last Judgment on the chapel's altar wall. The Sistine Chapel is also where the cardinals meet to elect a new pope. See the article on the cardinals and the papacy.

What Is the Sistine Madonna?

The Sistine Madonna is a large painting by Raphael showing Mary holding the baby Jesus as she steps forward on the clouds. Julius II commissioned it in 1512 for the church of San Sisto in Piacenza, in northern Italy, and it was probably finished around 1513. It is named for Saint Sixtus, an early pope, who kneels at the left. Saint Barbara kneels at the right.

At the bottom, two small winged cherubs lean on the ledge and gaze upward, looking a little bored. They have become some of the most copied figures in art, showing up on everything from postcards to coffee mugs. In 1754 the painting was sold to the ruler of Saxony and moved to Dresden, Germany. Soviet troops took it to Moscow after World War II and returned it in 1955. It hangs in Dresden today.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46 to 48

How Did the Bible Shape Renaissance Art?

It is hard to overstate it. The Bible gave Renaissance artists their biggest stories, their deepest themes and their best paying customers. Churches, monasteries and popes paid for most of the great works. Even artists who were not especially devout knew the Bible well enough to paint it in rich detail.

Protestants and Catholics later disagreed about images in worship. Some Reformers removed images from churches, while Catholics kept and defended them. Luther himself allowed pictures that taught the Bible. Whatever your tradition, these three works remain treasures of Christian history.

Why It Matters for You Today

These paintings were made to help people see the Bible. Today you can read it for yourself. Next time you see the Last Supper on a kitchen wall or the Creation of Adam on a T shirt, take it as an invitation to open Matthew 26 or Genesis 1 and read the real thing. The art is beautiful. The story it points to is better.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

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Questions People Ask

When was the Last Supper painted?

Leonardo da Vinci painted the Last Supper around 1495 to 1498 on the wall of the dining hall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It shows the moment after Jesus says one of the disciples will betray Him.

How long did it take Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling?

About four years. Pope Julius II commissioned him in 1508, and the ceiling was unveiled on October 31, 1512. It shows nine scenes from Genesis, including the Creation of Adam.

Who painted the Sistine Madonna and where is it?

Raphael painted it after Pope Julius II commissioned it in 1512 for the church of San Sisto in Piacenza, Italy. Since 1754 it has been in Dresden, Germany, where it hangs in the Old Masters Picture Gallery.

Is Mary Magdalene in Leonardo's Last Supper?

Art historians say no. The young, beardless figure next to Jesus is the apostle John, who was usually painted that way in Renaissance art. The Mary Magdalene idea comes from popular fiction.

Sources

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