Da Vinci's Is Back! The Last Thespians Supper

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Modern masterpiece: (L-R) John Alderton, Sir Richard Eyre, Steven Berkoff, Tim Pigott-Smith, Sir Antony Sher, Julie Walters, Robert Powell, Colin Firth, Tom Conti, Sir Michael Gambon, Simon Callow, Peter Eyre and Anthony Andrews recreate The Last Supper

Some of Britain's greatest acting talents have teamed up for a striking recreation of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper.
Stars from the worlds of TV, film and theatre posed for a contemporary version of the 15th century masterpiece for London's National Portrait Gallery.

Da Vinci's Is Back! The Last Thespians Supper

Enlarge  

Modern masterpiece: (L-R) John Alderton, Sir Richard Eyre, Steven Berkoff, Tim Pigott-Smith, Sir Antony Sher, Julie Walters, Robert Powell, Colin Firth, Tom Conti, Sir Michael Gambon, Simon Callow, Peter Eyre and Anthony Andrews recreate The Last Supper

Some of Britain's greatest acting talents have teamed up for a striking recreation of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper.
Stars from the worlds of TV, film and theatre posed for a contemporary version of the 15th century masterpiece for London's National Portrait Gallery.

Taking the role of Jesus Christ is Robert Powell, who famously played the Son of God in 1977 TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth

At his right is Oscar winner Colin Firth, followed by Tom Conti and Sir Michael Gambon with Simon Callow, Peter Eyre and Anthony Andrews making a trio at the end.
Meanwhile, to Powell's left is the sole woman in the image, Julie Waters, as Mary Magdalene, who appears to be in conversation with Steven Berkoff, Tim Pigott-Smith and Sir Antony Sher.
The re-imagining of Jesus and his disciples is completed by John Alderton shrugging off Sir Richard Eyre.

Breaking bread: Julie in conversation with Steven Berkoff, Tim Pigott-Smith and Sir Antony Sher (left), while Simon Callow, Peter Eyre and Anthony Andrews look particularly animated

Photographer Alistair Morrison said: 'My first two choices were Robert Powell who had to be Jesus, recreating the famous role played in Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth, and Julie Walters, who was asked to play Mary Magdalene (there has been speculation about whether it was Mary Magdalene or John the Apostle who was seated next to Jesus) and they both readily agreed.
'Their enthusiasm and influence helped to bring together this outstanding group of actors.'
The photo has been inspired by Da Vinci's original work, which was painted as a mural on the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan.
Prints of the contemporary recreation, entitled Actors' Last Supper, will go on sale at the West End gallery's new prints sales section, with prices ranging from £12,375 for a limited edition work to a postcard for £2.99.
Ten per cent of proceeds from the sales go to the National Portrait Gallery's fund which pays for new work to be added to the collection.

Big role: Robert as Jesus Christ in the 1977 TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth