Final answer:
Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is a figurative composition masterwork using tempera and oil on plaster, focusing on spiritual intensity and human drama.
Step-by-step explanation:
The form of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is widely considered a masterpiece of figurative composition. Created in 1498, da Vinci painted this significant work on the refectory wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan using a combination of tempera and oil on plaster.
The Last Supper vividly depicts the moment during the last meal shared by Jesus with his twelve apostles when he reveals that one among them would betray him.
Through his creative use of space and perspective, da Vinci is able to establish Jesus as the central figure, using the vanishing point that lands on Christ's right eye. This technique, along with an intentionally simplistic architectural setting, elevated the spiritual intensity of the scene. Comparatively, Leonardo's contemporaries often included decorative elements that could detract from the subject's spirituality, while he chose a stripped-down approach that allowed the human drama to take center stage.