the art of

christianity

Click on the image to access Ms. G's presentation. Esta presentación se puede traducir utilizando la extensión de Chrome.

The Last Supper - Leonardo da Vinci

ZOOM IN ON THE LAST SUPPER

8 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT THE LAST SUPPER

Click HERE for the text of this Smart History video where Steven and Beth discuss this masterpiece.

Da Vinci's work has been greatly damaged but you can explore a painting that perfectly copies the original work. It was painted by one of da Vinci's students just after the fresco was completed. Click the image to explore the painting in detail.

The Last Supper - Andrew Lloyd Weber & Tim Rice

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera. Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of the Opera) wrote the music and Tim Rice (The Lion King) wrote the lyrics to the songs. The opera tells the story of the last week of Jesus's life, focusing on the relationships and conflicts between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, and the Roman authorities.

The story is told through the eyes of Judas Iscariot and displays his internal struggle around his betrayal of Jesus.

It is performed through a contemporary lens with modernized costumes and sets.

Upon its release, the album immediately became a global hit. A live stage action show premiered on Broadway in 1971 and has inspired numerous stage productions, a 1973 film, and a 2018 live TV concert starring John Legend, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Sara Bareilles.

Lyrics: "The Last Supper"

[JESUS]

The end

Is just a little harder when brought about by friends

For all you care, this wine could be my blood

For all you care, this bread could be my body

The end!

This is my blood you drink

This is my body you eat

If you would remember me when you eat and drink

I must be mad thinking I'll be remembered, yes

I must be out of my head!

Look at your blank faces! My name will mean nothing

Ten minutes after I'm dead!

One of you denies me

One of you betrays me

[APOSTLES]

Not I! Who could? Impossible!

[JESUS]

Peter will deny me in just a few hours

Three times will deny me - and that's not all I see

One of you here dining, one of my twelve chosen

Will leave to betray me -

[JUDAS]

Cut out the dramatics! You know very well who -

[JESUS]

Why don't you go do it?

[JUDAS]

You want me to do it?

[JESUS]

Hurry, they're waiting

[JUDAS]

If you knew why I do it...

[JESUS]

I don't care why you do it!

[JUDAS]

To think I admired you, for now I despise you

[JESUS]

You liar - you Judas

[JUDAS]

You want me to do it!

What if I just stayed here and ruined your ambition?

Christ, you deserve it!

[JESUS]

Hurry, you fool, hurry and go

Save me your speeches, I don't wanna know - GO!

[APOSTLES]

Look at all my trials and tribulations

Sinking in a gentle pool of wine

What's that in the bread it's gone to my head

Till 'this morning' is 'this evening', life is fine

Always hoped that I'd be an apostle

Knew that I would make it if I tried

Then when we retire we can write the gospels

So they'll all talk about us when we die

[JUDAS]

You sad pathetic man - see where you've brought us to

Our ideals die around us, all because of you

And now the saddest cut of all:

Someone has to turn you in

Like a common criminal, like a wounded animal

A jaded mandarin

Like a jaded faded jaded faded jaded mandarin

[JESUS]

Get out! They're waiting! Get out!

They're waiting, oh, they're waiting for you, oh

[JUDAS]

Every time I look at you, I don't understand

Why you let the things you did get so out of hand

You'd have managed better if you'd had it planned, oh

[APOSTLES]

Look at all my trials and tribulations

Sinking in a gentle pool of wine

Don't disturb me now; I can see the answers

Till 'this evening' is 'this morning', life is fine

Always hoped that I'd be an apostle

Knew that I would make it if I tried

Then when we retire we can write the gospels

So they'll still talk about us when we've died

Lyrics: "D@mned for All Time"

[JUDAS]

Now, if I help you, it matters that you see

These sordid kinds of things are coming hard to me

It's taken me some time to work out what to do

I weighed the whole thing up before I came to you

I have no thought at all about my own reward

I really didn't come here of my own accord

Just don't say I'm

D@mned for all time

I came because I had to, I'm the one who saw

Jesus can't control them like he did before!

And furthermore, I know that Jesus thinks so, too

Jesus wouldn't mind that I was here with you

I have no thought at all about my own reward

I really didn't come here of my own accord

Just don't say I'm

D@mned for all time

Annas, you're a friend - a worldly man and wise

Caiaphas, my friend, I know you sympathise

Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones

Who see the sad solution - know what must be done?

I have no thought at all about my own reward

I really didn't come here of my own accord

Just don't say I'm

d@mned for all time

[ANNAS]

Cut the protesting, forget the excuses

We want information; get up off the floor

[CAIAPHAS]

We have the papers, we need to arrest him

You know his movements, we know the law

[ANNAS]

Your help in this matter won't go unrewarded

[CAIAPHAS]

We'll pay you in silver - cash on the nail

We just need to know where the soldiers can find him

[ANNAS]

With no crowd around him

[CAIAPHAS]

Then we can't fail

[JUDAS]

I don't need your blood money!

[CAIAPHAS]

Oh, that doesn't matter - our expenses are good

[JUDAS]

I don't want your blood money!

[ANNAS]

But you might as well take it; we think that you should

[CAIAPHAS]

Think of the things you can do with that money

Choose any charity - give to the poor

We've noted your motives - we've noted your feelings

This isn't blood money, it's a fee, nothing-

Fee, nothing- fee, nothing more

[JUDAS]

On Thursday night, you'll find him where you want him

Far from the crowds, in the Garden of Gethsemane

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - Michelangelo

Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel

I've grown a goitre by dwelling in this den–

As cats from stagnant streams in Lombardy,

Or in what other land they hap to be–

Which drives the belly close beneath the chin:

My beard turns up to heaven; my nape falls in,

Fixed on my spine: my breast-bone visibly

Grows like a harp: a rich embroidery

Bedews my face from brush-drops thick and thin.

My loins into my paunch like levers grind:

My buttock like a crupper bears my weight;

My feet unguided wander to and fro;

In front my skin grows loose and long; behind,

By bending it becomes more taut and strait;

Crosswise I strain me like a Syrian bow:

Whence false and quaint, I know,

Must be the fruit of squinting brain and eye;

For ill can aim the gun that bends awry.

Come then, Giovanni, try

To succor my dead pictures and my fame;

Since foul I fare and painting is my shame.

~poem by Michelangelo on the painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling

The Creation of Adam

The Last Judgement - MIchelangelo

Christ, Mary, and Saints (detail), photo: Alonso de Mendoza)

The dead rise from their graves and float to heaven, some assisted by angels. In the upper right, a couple is pulled to heaven on rosary beads, and just below that a risen body is caught in violent tug of war (detail), photo: Alonso de Mendoza)