If it took 4 years to complete, what was the comments when revealed at the time? Did viewers believe it was Mary M or John the Beloved? Was there controversy? Apparently not. Wouldn't it have been an insult to dump one of the apostles?

Hi Victoria. Welcome.
That's an interesting question.
I've got some books on Leonardo - I'll have a look to see what they say.

Perhaps, if it wasn't quite clear whether 'John' was male, female, effeminate or youthful, it would not have attracted open questions or criticisms, while still being 'obvious' to viewers what he was secretly trying to say.

That is, of course, assuming that there was some kind of hidden message there.

Almost all representations of John, the Beloved Disciple, in paintings at the time of Leonardo, show him as an incredibly young man -- beardless and effeminate. I'd have to say that there weren't any comments as far as a Jesus/Magdalene pairing.

i have a doubt with the Last Supper picture.

Consider , If to the right of Jesus is Mary M then
where does his apostle John went , it was suppose to
a meeting between Jesus and his disciples right , so John must be definetly there , without him there is no meaning with the name " The Last Supper "

For those who think Mary M. then i think John might went to get some wine for others , i think !!!!!!!!

This is very Clear , what would u say >>........

Hi Alex, welcome to the forum.

Yes, you do have a point there.
The way I see it, I think, is that there might be deliberate ambiguity going on on Leonardo's behalf, perhaps.

i think that is mary m besides jesus, and john is the one behind them, the one holding the knife, you cant see him but you can see his hand.. since we dont know whose hand that is

Why would John be portrayed as a disembodied person with a knife?

i dont know that..
but is that is mary m
then where's john?

Maybe 'John' and 'Mary' are one and the same?!

Or, at least, maybe that is how Leonardo portrayed them?

well i get what you are saying, leonardo painted maria m. but ppl thought that was john, cause of the 12 apostols and all that.. and it wouldnt make sense if leonardo left out one apostol..