Preview

The Last Supper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
911 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Last Supper
The Last Supper was a very powerful Biblical event, in which Jesus and his disciples gathered for one final dinner together. According to the Bible, important events took place during the Last Supper, including an announcement by Jesus that one of his disciples would betray him and the first communion. To artists in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, it was necessary to give proper deference to such notable occurrences. Both Leonardo da Vinci and Jacopo Robusti, known as Tintoretto, took upon the challenge of recreating the Last Supper. While Last Supper by da Vinci and Last Supper by Tintoretto are very similar in subject matter, they differ in composition, symbolism, and the choice of narrative moment.
<br>
<br>The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is the first great figure composition of the High Renaissance and the definitive interpretation of its theme. Jesus and his twelve disciples are seated at a long table that is parallel to the picture plane. The room is spacious and peaceful, and Christ has his arms spread in disposed trust . The rest of the group is in intense and dramatic excitement, with their hands out in shock and question at Jesus' words. The viewer can just feel the tense excitement sweeping through the groups of disciples. Jesus, the most important figure in the painting, has been placed in front of three windows that are in the back of the room, and he is framed by the center window with a curved pediment that arches above his head. His head serves as the focal and vanishing point of this piece, and your eye is immediately attracted to it. Da Vinci has arranged the disciples into groups of three and tied all the groups together through their hand motions giving this piece a symmetrically aesthetic feeling. Your eye is taken on a journey through the oval-shaped composition of the piece, but it is clear that Jesus serves as the vital magnet. The Last Supper by Tintoretto is a beautiful Mannerist-style painting in which the painter creates a
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Salvador Dali's The Sacrament Of The Last Supper
    • 859 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Salvador Dali's The Sacrament Of The Last Supper

    One ofthe harshest critics, Professor Paul Tillich, had this to say about Dali’s image of Jesus: “Asentimental but very good athlete on an American baseball team. The technique is a beautifyingnaturalism of the worst kind. I am horrified by it! Simply junk!”(Novak) It is not surprising thatscholars misunderstood Dali’s depiction of such a sacred theme as the Last Supper. “[Thepainting’s] sentimentality bordering on kitsch caused disgust in some religious quarters”(Shanes). For example, the scene of the Last Supper was so dogmatic and almost untouchable, itprompted Roman Inquisition in the sixteenth century to start an official inquiry into possibleheresy of the artist Veronese because of his “inappropriate treatment of the subject matter “ in hiswork which he had to rename and title Feast in the House Levi (Sayre 322). Dali did notattempt to create a scandal or controversy with his painting, instead his interpretation of the LastSupper gives the audience more than the Renaissance, Counter-Reformation and the Baroqueartists did. Many symbols used by the artist create a story and a code that goes beyond the eventsof the Last Supper.For this painting Dali chooses a rather simple setting. The architecture is almosttransparent, so is Jesus himself. Christ is sitting at the stone table in front of the pentagonwindow that reveals the view of the sea with the mountains on the horizon (Novak). Thislandscape is very characteristic for Dali’s art and could be seen in several of his works. It isknown to be the view from his window, a memory of his childhood- the connection to hisCatholic roots. Without any doubt, Jesus is the central figure of this composition. Dali usesseveral triangles to draw viewer’s attention- the convention used by many artists for centuriesbefore him; but he…

    • 859 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Leonardo Da Vinci: A Genuine Renaissance Man
    • 1854 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Leonardo Da Vinci: A Genuine Renaissance Man

    During his time painting the Virgin of the Rocks Leonardo Da Vinci utilized light and shadow to achieve depth and authenticity in the scenery behind the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Also, in the way Leonardo Da Vinci chose to paint the subjects in the Virgin of the Rocks shows an authenticity in the artwork giving the piece a sense of realness, or truthfulness. On the other hand, though, The Last Supper is an exceptional display of detail and expression. The Last Supper was a painting of Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples engaging in the last meal Jesus Christ would partake in before he was offered up as a ransom on the torture stake. This painting is an extremely religious painting that Leonardo Da Vinci was commissioned to paint. The Virgin of the Rocks is also a religious…

    • 1854 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Renaissance Art In The 1500's
    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Renaissance Art In The 1500's

    The Renaissance started in the 1400s; this time of culture took place in all of Europe. During this time art and literature had flourished. Artists had been at their best during the high renaissance which was during the 1500’s. During this time people had used oil on canvas for the first time. These techniques gave more details and depth to the painting. This was called perspective. The Mona Lisa was a world renowned painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. It was a painting of his wife even though she was not very special historically. This painting was so popular that it had set the standard for all other paintings of that time. Another painting that Leonardo painted was “The Last Supper “was Jesus with his disciples eating. This painting had amazing…

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Italian Renaissance vs. the Renaissance in Northern Europe
    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Italian Renaissance vs. the Renaissance in Northern Europe

    During the Italian Renaissance, paintings became more realistic. Many artists studied anatomy. The major themes of paintings during this time were religion and mythology. A lot of paintings depicted scenes from the Bible. A new concept that developed during this time in Italy was linear perspective. This helped the artists to realistically show space. Oil paint was also introduced during this time. An example of an Italian Renaissance painting is “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. True to the Renaissance, this painting was of a religious scene and featured realistic figures. Like in many of his paintings, da Vinci carefully rendered the lighting to create the atmosphere. In the front of the painting, where the disciples are seated around Jesus, there is more light. The rest of the room is dimmer and more shadowy.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lord's Last Supper Analysis
    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page

    Lord's Last Supper Analysis

    Though there are three different accounts of the Lord’s Last Supper in the bible—written by Matthew, Luke, and John—each record share common threads. Specifically speaking, the scriptures all express Jesus’ desire for people to, through the symbols of bread and wine, receive his body and blood in remembrance of him. In other words, through this symbolic and orderly process, all accounts show that Jesus wants his followers to remember the sacrifice he made: die on the cross to pay for mankind’s sins. Ultimately, I found these accounts to show Jesus suggesting a redemptive nature of his death.…

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jesus In The Greco-Roman World Summary
    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jesus In The Greco-Roman World Summary

    Smith first brings to light a misconception of the last supper that can be seen in a majority of art and modern translation of the Bible. Jesus and his disciples are usually depicted being sat formally at a table; when in fact original Greek text says they were reclining (smith 32). Smith further states, “reclining was after all, the common posture for all formal meals, or banquets (32).” To show the reader what a Greco-Roman Dining hall look like. “Smith commissioned artist Romney Oualine to create a reconstruction drawing, using Archeological remains, literary sources, Greek vase paintings, funerary reliefs, and Roman frescoes and mosaics (WHAT…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Two Last Suppers
    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Two Last Suppers

    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.…

    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Davinvi the Last Supper
    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Davinvi the Last Supper

    The Last Supper has been and will be one of the most talked about works of Leonardo Da Vinci 's work of art. The work of art was started in 1495 and was completed in 1498; it contained the event depicted in the bible as the final days when Jesus announced that he would be betrayed by one of his twelve disciples." Leonardo had chosen to depict the moment when Jesus says, "One of you will betray me".1 The painting is located in the dining hall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan Italy. The painting was commissioned by Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. The painting it self has a massive presence of 15 feet high by 29 feet wide. Even though most facts stated that the painted was not completed until three years after it was started. It was also well known that Da Vinci was a procrastinator, meaning the he did not consistently work on the art for a time period of three years but on and off when he had the time, subjects and motivation. It is said that most of his time with the painting was looking for model for the art work it is said that when he working on the picture it 's self he would stare at it for hours and then climb the ladder and paint for hours. Later he would not be seen for days and then show up paint a few stokes ad leave again. Much of the work was sporadically done.…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Dirty Renaissance
    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Dirty Renaissance

    One of the most famous pieces of art that came out of the Renaissance was Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper. Da Vinci painted The Last Supper on a dry wall rather than on wet plaster, so it is not a true fresco or wall painting. This type of painting can not altered as the artist works, so Da Vinci sealed the stone wall with a layer of pitch, gesso and mastic, then painted onto the sealing layer with tempera. This method of painting has not been able to endure…

    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jesus and Mary Magdalene
    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Jesus and Mary Magdalene

    According to The Da Vinci Code, Leonardo Da Vinci 's painting of The Last Supper has numerous hidden symbolisms. For example the book suggest that "the character to Jesus ' right, generally thought to be John, is really female, not male, and is Leonardo 's vision of Mary Magdalene, sitting in the most important…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Time Capsules from Renaissance and Baroque Periods
    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Time Capsules from Renaissance and Baroque Periods

    There was also a portrait of what will forever be known as "The Last Supper". This is Leonardo 's visual interpretation of the evening before Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples, when He gathered them all together to eat and tell them of the fact that He was aware of the tragedy that was to come. "The Last Supper" had certainly been painted before but Leonardo 's version was first to depict 'real people '. The technical perspective is incredible! You can see that every single element of the painting directs one 's attention straight to the mid-point of the composition, Christ 's head. It is arguably the greatest example of one point perspective ever created.…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Last Supper
    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Last Supper

    The painting of the Last Supper is an important event in Jesus Christ’s life because it was his last meal in Jerusalem with his disciples before his crucifixion. According to Christians, Christ foretells that he will suffer soon after his meal and that it will be his last meal. After Christ predicted that he was having his last meal, he gives his followers a commemoration for his body and blood by taking a piece of bread and gave it them saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The Last Supper consisted of his twelve disciples who were Christ’s closest followers who were men that travelled with Jesus and learned from him. The Last Supper was also an event where Christ announced that one of his twelve apostles would betray him. The twelve disciples involved were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Lebbaeus, Simon, and Judas. After Jesus’s death, the twelve disciples who were also known as apostles separated and began to spread Jesus’s teachings to others. There are various controversies about the Last Supper, that many paintings are created to show the meaning behind Christ’s last meal. There are various paintings of the Last Supper, but there are two particular portraits that particularly stand out because of the different controversy behind the painting.…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Art Appreciation semester final essay
    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Art Appreciation semester final essay

    In this essay you will be comparing and contrasting two different types of paintings. The same subject matter but different ideas of the same subject. I will be writing about The Last Supper, which was painted by Giampietrino, after Leonardo da Vinci. He used oil on canvas while painting the piece of art. The year that Giampietrino painted this picture was in 1520. Another work of art that I will be writing about will be The Last supper by Francesco Fontebasso. He painted this picture in 1762 using oil on canvas. As you can see from both types of arts, that they were both painted on oil on canvas and both have the same subject matter which is the last supper that Jesus Christ had. To both of these painting’s in person, you can go to the Royal academy of Arts in London to see the Giampietrino piece and Fontebasso’s piece is found in Museum Fund of the State Hermitage in St Petersburg.…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci Analysis
    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci Analysis

    The Last Supper is one of the most interesting and controversial works of Leonardo da Vinci. It is a mural painting, which means that it is directly painted on a wall, and is created by Leonardo in Milan from 1495 till 1498.…

    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Last Supper Vs The Last Supper Tintoretto
    • 164 Words
    • 1 Page

    Last Supper Vs The Last Supper Tintoretto

    Extraordinary difference, seeing the composition by Tintoretto stunned me for the straightforward reality that it is so not the same as "The Last Supper" I grew up with. The primary thing that I had seen was the most self-evident, distinction between the two is the shading. The work done by da Vinci is brilliant with lighter color contrast, and you know that the setting that appeared took place in the day. Then again, the work done by Tintoretto near the fire it is really dark, so that's a difference from the day on one picture and night on the other. The portrait is not as private as da Vinci's. The position of the Last Supper's table is very distinctive between the two. Da Vinci places his table in the inside, with the primary individuals…

    • 164 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics