The Two Last Suppers Essay, Research Paper

Compare Leonardo s Last Supper with that of Tintoretto.

The Last Supper by Leonardo is very different to Tintoretto s representation of the same incident. The last supper is one of the most important occurrences which took place in the Christian religion such an important event that many have seen the need for the event visually recorded through art the two most famous of these representations are by far Tintoretto s and Leonardo s works. The Last Supper by Leonardo was created during the renaissance period and is a simple symbolic work with little emotion. Tintoretto however chose to represent the event in a surrealistic manner to give full impact; A way in which was typical of the art period in which he painted the work, the Mannerist period. The two works although essentially containing the same subject differ immensely. This difference is strongly evident through the artists contrasting use of colour, light, realism, technique perception and focal point/s.

Leonardo s version of the Last Supper was painted El fresco depicting the scene passively without emotion. The work has the supper table horizontal across the lower third and Jesus and his twelve disciples dining behind it, before a backdrop of both man made structure and natural landscape. The artwork is un-cluttered and simple. The lighting is subtle and non-dramatic. Colour is conservative and dull this is partly due to the limited paint available and the technique and decay of fresco painting. The work is very balanced with only one focal point a style that is reflective of the period in which he painted it the Renaissance when the majority lived in harmony. Another attribute of his work, which is typical Renaissance art, is his combination of architectural structures and natural environment. His portrayal of the scene is very realistic and extremely accurate in human form. Leonardo has incorporated the use of drapery to emphasize and create this human form.

Tintoretto s portrayal of the Last Supper is one of dramatic Metaphysicalism. It features the dinning table diagonally along the left half of the work behind it Jesus and his Disciples before the table there is a woman cleaning and in the area above them are the angelic presence of cherubs. There are a number of smaller scenes present within the artwork and there are a number of focal points, which lead the viewer s eyes over them. The work is full of emotion and is largely unbalanced this is reflective of the time in which the work was created when there was a lot of social outrage and anger. Tintoretto used fantasy, to the point of surrealism in this work; Cherubs and halos are used to emphasize the religious significance of the event. This work has the presence of women. There is a strong contrast in this work with very deep shadows and vibrant bright highlights due to the dramatic lighting. There is an extremely strong use of colour and chiaroscuro.

The two depictions of the Last Supper are very different due to a number of outlying factors. There are different purposes or functions that each of the artists intended when creating their work. The artists were each motivated by different forces. Time periods differed and therefore social influences were not the same for both of the artists and that is reflected in their style of work. The two last suppers are both unique and individual. There are numerous clear distinctions through these two artists reconstruction of the same scene. Each of the works is creditable and purposeful but in two very distinctively different ways.