When Leonardo da Vinci began laying the first brushstrokes, in 1494, on the refectory wall of the convent adjacent to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, he probably had no idea he was about to create one of the greatest artistic masterpieces of all time. Adopting the innovative, and equally unusual, dry painting technique, the Renaissance genius could not foresee that he would have condemned his work to a particular fragility, and put its conservation at risk in the following centuries. This same technique, however, was what allowed an improved chromatic unity, a rendering of transparencies and light effects, and an extreme precision in details, visible only from close range. Today, thanks to the exclusive magnification published in this volume?realised by Haltadefinizione, the special digital photographic archive collecting a vast number of Italian artistic masterpieces?even the smallest details of the Last Supper, invisible to the naked eye, can be observed in all their expressive splendour. As you leaf through this book you can admire from up close, as never before possible, the realistic expressions on the faces of the individual Apostles, the movements and positions of their hands, and the smallest details of the outfitted table, thus entering practically into direct contact with Leonardo's genius at work. AUTHOR: Domenico Sguaitamatti is a priest who studied art, specialises in painting, stained glass, and mosaic. He performs the role of educator and teacher of the history of art in classical and scientific high schools. Beginning in September 2007, he has been charged by the Archbishop, within the Curia, to perform the role of collaborator at the Office of Cultural Heritage for the diocese, with particular attention toward appreciating the value of the heritage within theological, catechetical, and pastoral contexts. As an expert of art, he organises and manages courses of instruction in Art, Faith, and Culture, directed toward pastoral agents, tour guides, teachers, and persons sensitive to art. He contributes to various publications dealing with the same subject. He is called upon from various contexts to hold cultural events and moments of reflection which have art as a starting point. Haltadefinizione is a division of the HAL9000 company. From the day it was founded it has focused on promoting an innovative approach to the enhancement of artworks and cultural heritage, through the management of a creative path that begins with high definition digital acquisition and culminates in the spread of exceptionally high quality content. Haltadefinizione's iconographical and multimedia archive is at the complete disposal of publishing houses, museums and organisers of events for the production of first-class content. 140 colour photographs
