Tuk-Tuk as Depicted in da Vinci’s Masterpiece: The Last Supper

A little known historical fact is the role of tuk-tuks in transporting the Italian Renaissance urbanites during this fountainous time of philosophical and spiritual awakening. The symbolic power of the tuk-tuk during this era as the “thread that held Milan together” during the French invasion of 1498 is clear. Apparently, da Vinci himself escaped incarceration more than once by callous French authorities upon the “trusty wheels of the tuk-tuk.”

In this little known early version of the famous “Last Supper” painting, in which historical inaccuracies abound. Da Vinci plays with alternative themes. What was depicted in the final piece as the reaction of the apostles after Jesus’ statement that one amongst them would betray him, is in this version a much simpler portrayal of the common Italian Renaissance dilemma of dealing with a tuk-tuk driver who persistently (and often times falsely!) claims to have no change for 20 lira on a 5 lira ride. An ancient trick indeed! Nonetheless, devious drivers aside, da Vinci’s reverence for the tuk-tuk as an indispensable as well as beautifully engineered machine are without question.