Final answer:
The term 'commissioned' means to formally request or hire an artist to create a piece of art. Ludovico Sforza commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint The Last Supper, an innovative masterpiece that re-imagined the traditional portrayal of the subject.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the quote "Sforza commissioned him to paint the Last Supper, featuring Jesus at the table with his twelve apostles in 1495," the term commissioned refers to the act of formally requesting or contracting an artist to create a work of art, which in this case was a painting. Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, contracted Leonardo da Vinci to paint The Last Supper. This masterpiece was completed for the refectory, which is the dining hall of the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan.
The painting, recognized for da Vinci's innovative approach to a traditional subject, shows Jesus and his apostles reacting to the announcement of a betrayal. Unlike prior renditions of the scene, which placed Judas away from the group, da Vinci positioned him on the same side as the other apostles, forcing the viewer to identify him, and thereby adding a psychological element to the artwork.