<p><strong>The arch is not a painted part of the painting</strong>, but a physical part of the room in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_delle_Grazie,_Milan" rel="noreferrer">Santa Maria delle Grazie</a> above which the mural can be found:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0HpjJ.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0HpjJ.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br />
<sup><a href="https://e-arthistory5.blogspot.com/2018/03/leonardos-last-supper.html" rel="noreferrer">source</a></sup></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-14T07:02:55.337Z
The actual fact is that a door was cut right through the painting, so the part referred to was simply removed from the painting. See the [Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo)) for details.
virolino
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-29T07:36:27.437Z
Why is it relevant that the arch is not painted? What would be different if it was painted?
TanZor
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-29T20:03:52.847Z
@TanZor As virolino pointed out, the door was cut through the fresco around 150 years later, when it was in such a deteriorated state it was almost indiscernible. It was never part of the painting surface or the depicted scene. The OP thought it was part of the scene, because we know it from photographs where the frame is always present.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T07:13:39.830Z
Yes but why does this matter for the question of vanishing points?
TanZor
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T07:55:33.040Z
@TanZor It doesn't, it's completely unrelated, but the OP didn't know this.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-11T18:40:32.433Z
2020-10-11T18:40:32.433Z
Joachim
<p>The vanishing point seems to be at the center of the frame, where the parallel lines seem to meet.</p>
<p>I am wondering why the parallel lines of the semi arch are pointing down.</p>
<p>Any pointer would be helpful.</p>
<p>Please excuse my ignorance. Thank you!
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BrEEz.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BrEEz.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<linear-perspective>
The Last Supper - Vanishing Points
Sarbbottam
# The Last Supper - Vanishing Points

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-11)

The vanishing point seems to be at the center of the frame, where the parallel lines seem to meet.

I am wondering why the parallel lines of the semi arch are pointing down.

Any pointer would be helpful.

Please excuse my ignorance. Thank you!
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/BrEEz.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/BrEEz.jpg)

**Tags:** linear-perspective


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-10-11. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

**The arch is not a painted part of the painting**, but a physical part of the room in the [Santa Maria delle Grazie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_delle_Grazie,_Milan) above which the mural can be found:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/0HpjJ.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/0HpjJ.jpg)  
[source](https://e-arthistory5.blogspot.com/2018/03/leonardos-last-supper.html)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The actual fact is that a door was cut right through the painting, so the part referred to was simply removed from the painting. See the [Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo)) for details.  
> **username_3**: Why is it relevant that the arch is not painted? What would be different if it was painted?  
> **username_1**: @username_3 As username_2 pointed out, the door was cut through the fresco around 150 years later, when it was in such a deteriorated state it was almost indiscernible. It was never part of the painting surface or the depicted scene. The OP thought it was part of the scene, because we know it from photographs where the frame is always present.  
> **username_3**: Yes but why does this matter for the question of vanishing points?  
> **username_1**: @username_3 It doesn't, it's completely unrelated, but the OP didn't know this.  

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