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

• More than 230 curated online photographs and videos, as well as street view tours, form the digital collection
• The Royal Academy is the latest to join the many institutions displaying on the Google Arts & Culture platform
• Twenty-four artworks have been digitised in super-high-resolution including an oil copy of The Last Supper
• It harbours detail and features now missing from the original mural, which resides in a convent in Milan, Italy 
• For example, one can see Jesus' feet, which were cut out of da Vinci's mural in 1652 to make way for a door 

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 feet of Jesus in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper have been revealed in gigapixel detail in a Google project to bring Royal Academy art online in lockdown. Pictured, the oil on canvas copy of Leonardo’s The Last Supper by Giampietrino and Giovanni Antonio Boltfraffio (circa 1515-1520), one of 24 artworks from the academy's collections to be digitised by Google

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'. One may also view the feet of Jesus beneath the table, pictured — a detail lost from the original mural when a door was cut through the refectory wall on which it was painted back in 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 online exhibition features over 230 curated photographs and videos, including 24 pieces of art that have been digitised in super-high definition with Google's so-called 'Art Camera' system that can pick out even the finest of details.

Among the works highlighted are John Constable’s 1825 romantic oil painting ‘The Leaping Horse’, Royal Academy founder Mary Moser’s ‘Spring’ and one of former academy president Joshua Reynolds' self portraits.

Through Google's Street View system, the public will be able to virtually visit 17 different locations within the Royal Academy — including the Collection Gallery, Library and the Lecture Theatre — and enjoy eight different Street View tours.

These include 'Step inside Burlington House' and ‘Hidden Rooms at the RA’. 

Meanwhile thirty digital stories provide insights into the academy's rich history — including such lesser-known tales as the feud between Constable and fellow romantic Joseph Mallord William Turner. 

Using the Google Arts & Culture app, one can even bring the Royal Academy's collection into one's own home via the 'Art Projector' feature.

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 the salt spilt by Judas in a nod to his impending betrayal, pictured

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, pictured — foreshadowing his incredulity over the Resurrection and need to test Jesus' wounds

The online exhibition features over 230 curated photographs and videos, including 24 pieces of art that have been digitised in super-high definition with Google's so-called 'Art Camera' system that can pick out even the finest of details. Among the works highlighted are John Constable’s 1825 romantic oil painting ‘The Leaping Horse’ (pictured)

'Especially in times of crisis, art galleries and museums should be places of community that provide inspiration, escape, solace, fun and consolation,' said Royal Academy Secretary and Chief Executive Axel Rüger.

'The Royal Academy of Arts has existed to do that since 1768.'

'At a time when our doors are sadly closed, we are delighted to continue that cultural exchange online, through Google Arts & Culture.'

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

Through Google's Street View system, the public will be able to virtually visit 17 different locations within the Royal Academy — including the Collection Gallery, Library and the Lecture Theatre — and enjoy eight different Street View tours 

Through Google's Street View system, the public will be able to virtually visit 17 different locations within the Royal Academy — including the Collection Gallery, Library and the Lecture Theatre, pictured — and enjoy eight different Street View tours

LEONARDO DA VINCI WAS A RENAISSANCE POLYMATH

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo, was one of the greatest individuals of the last millennium. 

The polymath was a driving force behind the Renaissance and dabbled in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.

He has been attributed with the development of the parachute, helicopter and tank. 

He was born in what is modern-day Italy in 1452 and died at the age of 67 in France. 

After being born out of wedlock the visionary he worked in Milan, Rome, Bologna and Venice. 

His most recognisable works include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and the  Vitruvian Man. 

Another piece of artwork, dubbed the Salvator Mundi, sold for a world record $450.3 million (£343 million) at a Christie's auction in New York in 2017.