The Da Vinci Revelation takes up where the Da Vinci Code leaves off.
This article was written by Michael Di Nunzio who lives in Germany. For more information, contact him at: mdinunzio2.compuserve.de

O v e r v i e w

The Da Vinci Revelation is a highly informative and richly illustrated book that relates to a religiously significant theme which has recently become the subject of renewed public discussion. It has been inspired by the heightened interest in Leonardo’s painting of The Last Supper which The Da Vinci Code effected. Essentially, The Da Vinci Revelation is a professional artist’s in-depth analysis of Leonardo’s masterpiece. Its format is that of an illustrated tour conducted in a knowledgeable and objective manner. Its insights are expressed logically and convincingly in a grammar suitable for lay-persons and academics alike. Its purpose is to define the elements of and explain the meaning of the complete artistic revelation which Da Vinci designed into The Last Supper.

As millions of other readers, artist/illustrator Michael Di Nunzio was fascinated by the unique ideas and implications expressed within The Da Vinci Code. He found the propositions that Maria Magdalene was the Beloved Disciple of Jesus Christ, that she had carried his bloodline within her, that she thus herself constituted the Holy Grail, and that the Apostle Peter had contended with her for leadership of the new Christian church truly thought-provoking. Furthermore, the suggestive symbolism and implicative figural composition which Da Vinci designed into the central portion of The Last Supper seem to substantiate these propositions. Therefore, Di Nunzio suspected that an in-depth analysis of the entire painting might be even more revealing.

Although the artist knew that The Last Supper had been analysed numerous times since its creation, he also knew that these analyses had been carried out by organizationally bound and thematically pre-conditioned individuals; for instance, dogmatically oriented professors of religion, academically employed art historians, or ministerial dignitaries working under the auspices of the Catholic Church. Not surprisingly, then, their analyses had always sustained traditional church teaching regarding the events of the Last Supper, and had always failed to reveal anything of a non-doctrinal nature regarding the thematic contents of the painting. With these facts in mind, Di Nunzio decided that it was high time for a practicing artist to conduct an independent analysis of The Last Supper. The knowledge which he has gained by doing so has substantiated his original suspicion and granted him the following realizations:

Firstly, that Leonardo definitely did integrate more suggestive symbolism and more implicative figural composition into the rest of his painting. Secondly, that he had also integrated several awareness-directing elements which were intended to draw viewer attention to certain areas and figures within the painting. Thirdly, that these additional suggestive symbols, figural compositions, and awareness-directing elements had either not yet been discovered, or that their narrative significance had not yet been fully recognized. And, lastly, that when correctly understood and collectively related, the implicative design elements of The Last Supper visually transmit an artistically suggestive revelation!

 Di Nunzio soon realized that he had discovered the elements of a great story which had never been told. He had uncovered the story of the real circumstances and events which unfolded during the Easter Passion of Christ. This is the story of a large conspiracy in which the forces of militant nationalism, political opportunism, passionate love, and spiritual renewal joined in an effort to save Christ’s life by giving him a final opportunity to accept the throne of King of Israel. In this regard, Maria Magdalene and Simon Peter were not the only conspirators involved. Amazingly enough, Judas Iscariot also played a role, along with a number of other prominent disciples. In addition, such biblically renowned figures as Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Herod the Tetrarch, and others were also involved. Suffice it to say, Leonardo’s artistically suggestive interpretation of the complex human drama associated with Christ’s crucifixion is very different from the traditional dogmatic interpretation offered us by the major Christian churches. Having been granted recognition of this fact, Di Nunzio also recognized that the time had come for Leonardo’s long undiscovered revelation to be brought to public attention. Towards this end, the artist realized that an illustrated book detailing his analysis of The Last Supper would be a very good way to do so. Thus, the concept for The Da Vinci Revelation was born.

Michael Di Nunzio’s book reveals Leonardo Da Vinci’s hitherto undiscovered revelation by offering the reader an artist’s analysis of The Last Supper in the inviting format of an illustrated tour. The analytical portion of this tour is divided into five specific phases, each of which examines a major design aspect of Leonardo’s masterpiece and explains the methods which he used to suggestively imply his artistic revelation. Employing location photographs, detailed close-ups of the original painting, and graphic illustrations, the author acts as a tour guide to explain Da Vinci’s compositional considerations and his suggested implications. Thereby, the author also explains the plausibility and possible ramifications of Leonardo’s suggested implications by comparing these to related biblical teaching and respected theological knowledge. Therewith, the reader is progressively enlightened and guided to the concluding phase of the book - The Da Vinci Revelation. Therein, all the insights and understanding gained during the previous five phases are related and combined - like the scattered pieces of a long lost puzzle - to then vividly reveal the hidden truths of an historically singular event in which fate, desperation, intrigue, undying love, and incorruptible spiritual dedication expressed themselves in the greatest story never told.