Mannerism

Influences: High Renaissance artists developed their styles from the observation of nature and the formulation of a pictorial science. When Mannerism matured after 1520(The year Raphael died), all the representational problems had been solved. A body of knowledge was there to be learned. Instead of nature as their teacher, Mannerist artists took art as their teacher. While Renaissance artists sought nature to find their style, the Mannerists looked first for a style and found a manner.

Michelangelo, Detail from the Sistine Chapel ceiling

Characteristics: compositions can have no focal point (often composed along weaving diagonals) space can be ambiguous figures are often involved in athletic bending and twisting with distortions exaggeration of poses occurs an elastic elongation of the limbs occurs bizarre posturing occurs on one hand & graceful posturing on the other hand occurs a rendering of the heads as uniformly small and oval occurs the composition is crowded clashing colours are used Mannerist artwork seems to seek instability and restlessness. which is unlike what we've seen in the balanced, natural, and dramatic compositions of the High Renaissance. Mannerism was the style of the courts and was often erotic and provocative even when handling religious subjects. Mannerism expressed irrational or highly dramatic emotions.

Bronzino, Venus, Cupid, Folly & Time

El Greco, The Laocoon Group

Pontormo's, "Deposition,” 1525 - 28 you can see the distortion of Christ's body

In Parmigianino's, "Madonna with the Long Neck," you can see the small oval head and the elongated neck. The Christ child also seems to look a bit elongated himself. He is a pretty long baby for a newborn.