Art & Culture · 3
Because Leonardo da Vinci's oil-tempera technique for 'The Last Supper' failed over time, what proportion of the mural's original paint is estimated to survive today?
Answer
Less than 20%
Since Leonardo used an experimental oil-and-tempera mixture on dry plaster instead of true fresco, most of the original pigment flaked away over the centuries, and conservators estimate that less than 20% of Leonardo's original paint survives on the wall today.
💡 Did you know?
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci wasn't actually painted on wet plaster—his experimental oil technique failed, causing centuries of deterioration and requiring constant restoration.
Other options people guess
- Nearly 100%
- About 90%
- Roughly 75%
Topics
- leonardo-da-vinci
- fresco-restoration
- art-history
- renaissance
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