The Last Supper: “The Living Tableau” by Armondo Linus Acosta

 




On the occasion of the Jubilee Year, Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport presents The Last Supper: The Living Tableau, a video installation inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, “The Last Supper”.

Directed by American award-winning filmmaker Armondo Linus Acosta, this nine-minute cinematic work was created through the collaboration of three renowned names in Italian cinema, all Oscar winners: cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, set designer Dante Ferretti, and set decorator Francesca Lo Schiavo.

First presented in 2019 to mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, the installation has already been showcased in numerous international cultural venues. Displayed within Terminal 1 of Fiumicino airport, this exhibition is part of a broader initiative aimed at bringing art into spaces of transit and connection, making it accessible to a wide and diverse audience.

The narrative begins with a timeless landscape, accompanied by Rossini’s Stabat Mater. Gradually, the scene unfolds: the room, the table, the twelve apostles, and finally, Jesus, who performs the gesture of blessing and announces the betrayal. The staging is meticulously crafted, with perspective, lighting, costumes, and movements all designed to capture the visual and symbolic essence of the original painting.

A distinctive element of the project is the casting choice: instead of professional actors, members of the production team were selected for their resemblance to the characters in the painting.  The director himself portrays the apostle Thaddeus. The costumes, tailor-made from plaster molds, enabled the creation of static poses faithful to Leonardo’s iconic depiction.

The result is a powerful work that, despite its stillness, conveys profound emotions through glances, lighting, and silence.

This initiative offers a unique cultural experience within the airport, a space frequented every day by thousands of people. In a context defined by travels, waiting and movements, The Living Tableau offers a moment of pause and reflection, accessible free of charge to passengers and visitors.