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Matthew McWilliams's avatar

Which one better depicts the Last Supper? Depends on how you mean that. I like both paintings very much. I think everyone knows Leonardo's painting, even if they aren't Christian. The La Touche painting is one I've never seen before. I think the differences between the two are a function mostly of when they were painted. In Leonardo's time the goal of the artist was to glorify God with grandiose depictions of biblical stories. The impressionist style of La Touche is much more intimate and conveys a warmth that is lacking in a lot of Renaissance paintings.

So, which one is the better depiction depends on whether you favor something that conveys the grandness of God, or something that conveys the intimacy of the actual event of the Last Supper. Although, one could argue that the focus on the chalice in the La Touche painting accomplishes the first idea, just in a different way. On the flipside, the way the disciples are huddled together around the table in the Leonardo painting offsets the grandness of the room.

Overall, I favor the Leonardo painting, although that may just be out of familiarity.

Thanks for the interesting lesson.

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Bacon Commander's avatar

I had no idea. Stuff like this is why i lurv substack.

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