The Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and Dominican convent in Milan, Italy, renowned for housing Leonardo da Vinci's mural, The Last Supper. Commissioned by Duke Ludovico Sforza, the complex serves as a primary example of Lombard Renaissance architecture, blending traditional Gothic elements with the innovative spatial designs of the late 15th century.
The church was designed by Guiniforte Solari, with the tribune and apse later redesigned by Donato Bramante. Despite suffering significant damage during Allied bombing raids in 1943, the structure was meticulously restored, preserving the refectory wall that holds the world-famous mural, which remains one of the most studied and influential works of Western art.
Key Facts
- Materials
- Brick, Terracotta, Marble
- Civilization
- Italian Renaissance
- Accessibility
- Limited; refectory requires advance booking
- Date(s)
- 1463-1497
- Condition
- Active church and museum site
- Original Function
- Dominican convent and church
- Key Figures
- Ludovico Sforza, Leonardo da Vinci, Donato Bramante, Guiniforte Solari
Founding and Early Construction
1463-1469The convent and church were commissioned by Duke Francesco I Sforza, with construction beginning in 1463 under the direction of Guiniforte Solari. The initial design followed a traditional Gothic style common in the region.
Bramante's Expansion
1492-1497Ludovico Sforza decided to make the church the Sforza family burial site and commissioned Donato Bramante to redesign the eastern end. Bramante added a large square tribune, a spacious apse, and a dome, introducing Renaissance proportions to the structure.
The Last Supper
1495-1498During the renovation, Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to paint The Last Supper on the north wall of the convent's refectory. He utilized an experimental tempera and oil technique on dry wall, which began to deteriorate shortly after completion.
War Damage and Restoration
1943-presentDuring World War II, an Allied bombing raid destroyed the roof and several walls of the refectory. The wall containing The Last Supper survived due to protective sandbagging, and subsequent decades have seen extensive restoration efforts to stabilize both the architecture and the mural.