Mannerism

Mannerism is the usual English term for an approach to all the arts, particularly painting but not exclusive to it, a reaction to the High Renaissance, emerging after the Sack of Rome in 1527 shook Renaissance confidence, humanism and rationality to their foundations, and even Religion had split apart.

Some mannerist examples

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Jacopo da Pontormo's Joseph in Egypt stood in what would have been considered contradicting colors and disunified time and space in the Renaissance. Neither the clothing, nor the buildings— not even the colors— accurately represented the Bible story of Joseph. It was wrong, but it stood out as an accurate representation of society's feelings.

Related Topics:
Jacopo da Pontormo - Joseph in Egypt - Bible - Joseph

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Rosso Fiorentino, who had been a fellow-pupil of Pontormo in the studio of Andrea del Sarto, brought the Florentine maniera to Fontainebleau in 1530, where he became one of the founders of the French 16th century Mannerism called the "School of Fontainebleau". The examples of a rich and hectic decorative style at Fontainebleau transfered the Italian style, through the medium of engravings, to Antwerp and thence throughout Northern Europe, from London to Poland, and brought Mannerist design into luxury goods like silver and carved furniture. A sense of tense controlled emotion expressed in elaborate symbolism and allegory, and elongated proportions of female beauty are characteristics of his style.

Related Topics:
Rosso Fiorentino - Andrea del Sarto - Fontainebleau - 1530 - School of Fontainebleau - Engraving - Antwerp - Allegory

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Agnolo Bronzino's somewhat icy portraits put an uncommunicative abyss between sitter and viewer, concentrating on rendering of the precise pattern and sheen of rich textiles.

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Giorgione's Tempest was just that, with no clue left as to what it meant or why it was even there. Art began to gain its own value.

Related Topics:
Giorgione - Tempest - Art

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Jacopo Tintoretto's Last Supper epitomized Mannerism by taking Jesus and the table out of the middle of the room. He showed all that was happening and even gave Judas Iscariot a halo. In sickly, disorienting colors he painted a scene of confusion that somehow separated the angels from the real world. He had removed the world from God's reach.

Related Topics:
Jacopo Tintoretto - Last Supper - Jesus - Judas Iscariot - Halo - Angel - God

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El Greco attempted to express the religious tension with exaggerated Mannerism. This exaggeration would serve to cross over the Mannerist line and be applied to Classicism.

Related Topics:
El Greco - Religious tension - Classicism

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Benvenuto Cellini created a salt cellar of gold and ebony in 1540 featuring Neptune and Amphitrite (earth and water) in elongated form and uncomfortable positions. It is considered a masterpiece of Mannerist sculpture.

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List of Mannerist Painters:

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• Pontormo
• Parmigianino
• Michelangelo (Last Judgment, Sistine Chapel; Rondanini Pieta)
• Cellini
• Giulio Romano
• Rosso
• Bronzino
• Tintoretto
• Hans von Aachen
• El Greco