Comparison of Leonardo and Tintoretto's Last Supper Paintings

The Last Supper is one of the most important events in the Christian religion, and it is widely known. Both Leonardo and Tintoretto painted a picture of what they thought The Last Supper would look like, and so it was inevitable that people would compare and contrast the paintings. Both painters have very different styles, so The Last Supper Painting comparisons must start with that. Leonardo was painting during the Renaissance period, and so his version of The Last Supper is very realistic in nature, and combines both architecture and the outside world in the background. The Renaissance period was one which emphasises realism in its subjects – the Renaissance itself was a period of history known as the rebirth, which focused on new historical and philosophical discoveries which changed the course of European history. Everything changed during this time period, to help people get used to the more ‘realistic’ and less superstitious views which were being promoted over the more spiritual and ritualistic views of before. The Renaissance period saw people turning away from the Church as the arbiter of every part of life, and so the painting in particular changed from being idealised, into being realistic. Leonardo himself has drawn The Last Supper to look very realistic; he has used drapery to great effect to make the people seem even more real, as though they had the movements and joints that real people have. Tint...