Mannerism

            Mannerism was the movement after the death of Raphael. Many wanted to get away from High Classical idealism and realism. Through elegance, grace, and artificiality artist departed from past artistic conventions such as balance and lifelike references. Many of the art created during this time referenced past High Renaissance art, but unlike the High Renaissance art the humans were disproportioned and the background and subject matter for the pieces usually left someone scratching their head. Examples of mannerism are Parmigianino’s Madonna with the Long Neck and Bronzino’s Allegory with Venus and Cupid.

            As I said before the Mannerist style portrayed the human form in disproportioned and anatomically incorrect positions. Madonna with the Long Neck is a good example, as the title suggest, the Madonna’s neck is exaggerated to a length not normal. Her body proportions are incorrect as well; her legs are thick and long compared to her small and thin shoulders. Her hands are too long for a female and her body is in an unbalanced position holding Christ. The baby is also anatomically incorrect, the baby is much too large and long to be a child, and his arms are at awkward positions giving the impression of no balance. Anatomical awkwardness is also shown in Allegory with Venus and Cupid. Cupid is seductively holding Venus in an awkward anatomically impossible position. Cupid’s back is curved to a point unimaginable and the angles at where his legs are bent at have no reinforcement to his pose.

            Another Mannerist style is the use of background, with the Classical period background was used for the basis of foundation, to set the setting and establish order and balance. Mannerism deterred from that conveyed the background as more of an abstract idea. In the Madonna with the Long Neck the background has a small man unrolling a scroll, the way he is positioned seems that the artist was not pressed to worry about perspective. As the image of the unsupportive column suggest as well. The column is gigantic in proportion to the small man, so this takes away at what depth there is to the picture and if there is linear perspective. In the Allegory with Venus and Cupid the background is very random and gives off the impression as being tight and cramped. There is much movement in the background distracting the viewer from Venus and Cupid. Not only that but, there is no sense of where the light is coming from. The lighted figures are in random places and the lady on the left top corner should be lighted as she is at the same distance as the man in the right top corner.

            Although both artworks are Mannerist I feel the Allegory withVenus and Cupid is far more anti-Classical. Although the Madonna with the Long Neck does have the necessary elements to be considered Mannerist, the piece still has some main references to the High Classical High Renaissance Period; such as the use of color and the direction of the light. Bronzino’s piece on the other hand seems as though it has no reference in it except for the gods of Greece. Everything is very random the subject matter can be interpreted in many ways and the positions, light direction, and balance of the piece is very Anti-Classical.