Mannerism: A step toward Modernism

Themes > Arts > Painting > Renaissance Painting > Late Renaissance > Mannerism > A step toward Modernism

There is a period of time between the High Renaissance and the emergence of the Baroque era that is transitional and defies an easy, single explanation. There is no one style associated to Mannerism (named because of the effected manner many figures possessed during this time). Actually, we saw elements of Mannerism with Michelangelo's David in the elongation and distortion of his left hand. But during the last half of the 16th century and well in to the 17th century, we can see an increasing movement toward the individual artist using their creativity in unorthodox ways. . . . . . from distorting and abstracting the human form, to very different and sometimes strange compositional designs. So with Mannerism, we go beyond Classicism toward the realm of the power of the artist to create and distort in which ever way he or she pleases.

This trend is certainly clear in the painting to the left, Madonna of the Long Neck (c. 1540), by Parmigianino. Ultimately influenced by Raphael, Parmigianino borrows his graceful elegance, but that's just about all. As you can see, the Madonna's neck, body and fingers are outrageously distorted, as is the baby Jesus, who looks as if he's in the process of falling off the Virgin's lap. Adding to the sense of distortion is the saint with a scroll in the lower right, and the strange column in the background. Parmigianino tells us that there are more ways than just Classicism to render a painting. Welcome to the first step toward Modernism!