Fotoreproductie van fresco Het laatste Avondmaal door Leonardo da Vinci in het klooster Santa Maria delle Grazie 1850 - 1865

This is a photographic reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco ‘The Last Supper’, made by Luigi Sacchi. Instead of paint and plaster, we see a chemical process at work, light impressioned onto a treated surface. What’s fascinating here is how photography transforms our relationship to this iconic image. The original fresco, painted on a wall in Milan, was a unique creation, painstakingly achieved. This photograph, on the other hand, is an early example of mechanical reproduction. A way of seeing made accessible to a wider audience, far beyond the walls of the Santa Maria delle Grazie. Consider the cultural impact of this shift, as photography enabled art to be circulated, consumed, and reinterpreted in countless ways. It democratizes access, yet also abstracts the artwork from its original context. Sacchi’s photograph invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between art, technology, and the changing landscape of visual culture.