How to compare two great artists?

The National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square is currently attempting to compare and contrast two of the great painters of the Renaissance, Bellini and Mantegna, and they are doing it rather well. These two artists were, in fact, brothers-in-law and must have had lots of contact, so it is interesting to see how they developed and especially how they handled the same subject matter. The National is usually very good at providing descriptive signs and in this exhibition they have also placed similar themed pictures by the two artists side by side to give you a rare opportunity to compare their work side-by-side. Here is an example. Both pictures are called 'The agony in the garden' and show Jesus at prayer as Judas leads the soldiers who are going to arrest him. Which painting do you like best, and can you guess which artist painted which picture?

What do I think? Well, they are both very impressive woks of art, the upper one by Mantegna and the lower one by Bellini. The Mantegna is much more crowded and full of detail, the Bellini is more restrained and peaceful. The serenity of the Bellini just about gets my vote as befitting the subject: the calm before the storm, you could say.