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The Last Supper in Pop Culture

The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15^th century, depicts the last meal shared by Jesus and his disciples. The painting was originally painted as a fresco on a wall as a commission for a church. Da Vinci’s mural has endured many historical events that could have destroyed this masterpiece. The process Da Vinci used was highly experimental and the color has been fading for decades.

During World War II, the bombing in Europe caused cracking and chipping. Preservation efforts have been ongoing to try to preserve this iconic piece. But despite these events, it is one of the most recognizable pieces of art in history. It is also one of the most parodied artworks in pop culture. Many artists, movies, and television shows have used modern characters placed in this classic scene.

The Last Supper on TV

South Park, using its child characters, recreated it in the episode Margaritaville and used long-suffering Kenny as the savior. The Simpsons even recreated the scene in Moe’s tavern for the episode Thank God it’s Doomsday. Ron English, an artist that specializes in branding and design, created a version using pop culture icons including Spongebob, Shrek, and Darth Vader. House recreated the iconic scene for a promotional poster. These are just a few of the dozens of examples.

The Last Supper – South Park

The Last Supper – The Simpsons

The Last Supper – House

Here at overstockArt, we offer both the classic version by Leonardo da Vinci and another version by Juan De juanes. Although not as colorful as some of the more modern interpretations, these are both beautiful works of art. Both versions of The Last Supper capture the deep emotion and elegant details that one would expect in such an important scene. Feel free to take a look at them both, as well as some of the other great Renaissance creations in our Renaissance art gallery. We are sure you will find the perfect piece of art.