Last Supper of Da Vinci and Tintoretto - Essay Example

Comparative Analysis: Last Supper of Da Vinci and Tintoretto Personal Observation The Last Supper is known to be “one of the greatest masterpieces of all time” (Leonardo Da Vinci’s Life: The Last Supper, par. 1) that boasts of its continued success in terms of being the most studied and most sold in replicated posters from among Da Vinci’s famous paintings (Leonardo, par. 1). Da Vinci’s Last Supper has been the subject of various scholarly critics analyzing the authenticity of the images, after the most talked about book of Dan Brown, the Da Vinci code.

When one takes a closer look, the twelve apostles surrounding Jesus were actually grouped into three’s to dramatically focus on Jesus at the center, in a triumvirate melancholic position, appropriately manifesting the solemnity of the supper, in conjunction with the anticipated passion and suffering to come. The colors were actually matte and nothing glaring or domineering exists in the painting. Judas, the betrayer, was included with the twelve, so viewers who are familiar with Jesus life and story would strain to determine who among them would betray Jesus.

Da Vinci’s Last Supper is more solemn, more remorse, despite the depicted movements of the disciples all seated with Jesus. There is balance in the whole painting, with Jesus at the center; there appears to be exactly four panels on the left and right walls of the room, and the three windows at the back diametrically positions Jesus at the center. When viewed together with Tintoretto’s own interpretation of The Last Supper, one’s own contention is that Da Vinci’s work is more sublime, formal, with a uniform structure in style manifesting balance and harmony in figures.

Tintoretto’s depiction of the painting was more dramatic manifesting dynamic movements of the disciples, with predominantly more participants in terms of other observants, in addition to the 12 disciples. The latter’s paintings contain heavenly figures in the form of angels and Jesus, with halo, in radiant splendor, in complete contrast to the basically dark background. There appears no balance as there is more light on the left portion of the painting illuminating from Jesus’ halo, in stark contrast to the right dark side.

Further, Judas, the betrayer, was positioned in the darkness to manifest the tragedy of his actions and be interpreted as being away from the light. Leonardo Da Vinci Jacopo Robusti Tintoretto The Last Supper, The Last Supper, 1495 – 1499 1592 - 1594 ------------------------ --------------------------------- Subject Religious painting depicting Jesus with 12 disciples during the last supper, when Jesus announced that one of his disciples would betray him. Medium Tempera on greso, pitch and mastic Oil on canvass Dimensions 460 cm × 880 cm 365 cm × 568 cm (181 in × 346 in) (144 in × 224 in) Issues Renaissance Humanist Venetian Renaissance Location Santa Maria delle Grazie, Basilica di San Giorgio Milan Maggiore, Venice Context Religious Religious There are similarities in Da Vinci’s and Tintoretto’s The Last Supper in terms of theme, subject, and context.

Otherwise, all other elements contain disparities: in medium, in dimensions (Da Vinci’s painting was larger), in location, and in issues. According to Gurley, Da Vinci “represents the pinnacle of the Renaissance Humanist school” (Gurley, par. 4) while Tintoretto was “member of the Venetian Renaissance school.. (where) Venetians foreshadowed impressionism with their use of light and color to create more vivid and energetic paintings” (Gurley, par. 5). Da Vinci’s painting was more realistic in interpretation than Tintoretto’s, but both are commendable in terms of artistic interpretation and expressions of their times.

Work Cited Gurley, R. A Comparison of Da Vinci and Tintorettos Last Supper Paintings. 2010. Web. 28 April 2011.