Film 2: Da Vinci / Bruce

Fiona Bruce, host of the BBC show "Da Vinci: The Lost Treasure," is a British journalist who studied French and Italian at Hertford College in Oxford. While most of her experience may not be with paintings, what she lacks in experience she make up for in her effort to connect with those she interviews. Showing recordings of interviews also adds to her creditability.

One painting that particularly intrigues me by Da Vinci is The Last Supper, a mural originally painted in Milan. For this painting Da Vinci used tempera paint on gesso, pitch and mastic. Having attended Catholic Schools since three year old preschool, I have spent a great deal of time staring at this piece of artwork over the years. My eye is first drawn to Jesus, who is clearly the centerpiece of the painting. Secondly, I notice the chaos  on either side of him. Da Vinci expresses the many emotions that were being felt by Jesus' closest friends and disciples. There is fear, excitement, concern, shock. Thirdly, I notice the structure of the room, the different planes and lines that Da Vinci used as tools to give the illusion of depth on a flat surface.

I believe the storyteller used parts of interviews to show that the information she was giving was creditable. The audience is probably more likely to believe the words of profession art historians rather than a journalist.

Discussion Question
What makes Da Vinci's work so important to the study of art history?