Lost soles

Jesus's feet in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper are revealed in 'gigapixel' detail as part of a Google project to bring Royal Academy artworks online during lockdown

The feet of Jesus in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper have been revealed in gigapixel detail in a Google project that aims to bring some of the collection of Royal Academy of Arts online amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The London-based academy is the latest to join the Google Arts & Culture platform, where high-res image technology lets people view artworks and artefacts from participating institutions across the globe.

Among the works digitised in super-high-resolution by Google's Art Camera team is Giampietrino and Giovanni Antonio Boltfraffio's oil-on-canvas copy of 'The Last Supper'.

While the mural by their master, da Vinci — which resides in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan — has lost details through deterioration and damage, such remain in the copy and are now more accessible digitally.

For example, one can see clearly both the detail of doubting Thomas' raised finger — foreshadowing his incredulity over the Resurrection — and the salt spilt by Judas in a nod to his impending betrayal.

One may also view the feet of Jesus beneath the table — a detail lost from the original mural when a door was cut through the refectory wall on which it was painted back in the year 1652.

'The Royal Academy is famed for being experimental, welcoming and a thoroughly modern institution for art lovers everywhere,' said Google Arts & Culture head Luisella Mazza.

'Although we are unable to visit in person, we can still experience it from anywhere in the world,' she added.

'By bringing their stories online, Google Arts & Culture will allow users to go behind the scenes and explore the range of activities that go on at this innovative and extraordinary institution.'

The digital exhibition can be explore on the Google Arts & Culture website.