Mannerism

• A style of art predominant in Italy in the late 16th century,

characterized by stylized and elongated forms and the
pursuit of a representation of idealized beauty.
• It attempted to refine even further the technical, virtuosity
and elegance of the High Renaissance.
• It was a style of the courts. It appealed to an elite,
sophisticated audience.
Mannerism - characteristics
• Subjects are often difficult to decipher
• compositions with serpentine line
• bizarre contrast of poses and colour
• nature and space became unreal
• drapery takes on a life of its own
• stylized and elongated forms
Madonna of the Long Neck Parmigianino, c. 1535,
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, oil on panel

Figura Serpentinata: A
snakelike twisting of the body,
typical of Mannerist art

Key Points:
• Size: Elongated Madonna and
Christ and small man
• Different planes: Large and small
images in foreground
• Overlapping: The legs of the
youth are confusing
• Colours: Mary’s dress is a cool
metallic colour
The Deposition, Pontormo, c. 1525-28,
Caponi Chapel, Florence, oil on panel
Key Points:
• Christ has been taken
down from the cross,
and is carried to his
tomb
• Colours: pink and
blue palette – pastels
are in contrast to the
dark sky
• Figures: Odd
juxtaposition, stony
rather than fleshy
forms, agitated poses
The Burial of Count Orgaz, El Greco, 1586,
Santo Tome, Spain, oil on canvas

Key Points:
• Depicts the death of a
Spanish Nobleman, and
his soul going up to
heaven
• Lower part: 16th C on
earth
• Upper: timeless and in
heaven (Christ, Mary,
John the Baptist, other
disciples)
• El Greco
included
himself in
the painting
Baroque
• An art style of the Counter-Reformation. Mainly limited
to Catholic Countries.
• Artists were called to Rome to restore religious spirit.
It was used as a tool or weapon by the Catholic
Church to stamp out heresy and lure people back to
the Church.
• Artists rejected the Renaissance idealism in favour of
a more natural approach. Its intent was to draw the
viewer in as an eyewitness to events.
Baroque - characteristics
• Dramatic movement with strong diagonal to
create dynamic composition
• Variety with contrast of light and shade
(chiaroscuro).
• Themes: Biblical, genre, still life and landscape
The Conversion of St. Paul (on the Road to Damascus), Caravaggio, 1601,
Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, oil on canvas

Key Points:
• Religious themes: intended to
appeal to ordinary people, not
glorified (natural)
• Intense drama, lit by a single
source of light, black background
intensifies the drama
• Use of tenebrism: the use of
sharply contrasting light and
dark
Calling of St. Matthew
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, Artemisia Gentileschi, 1614-20
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, oil on canvas

Key Points:
• Follower of Caravaggio, one of the
first women artists to emerge as a
significant personality in Europe
• Illustrates a scene from the Book of
Judith (Old Testament Apocrypha)
• Exhibits the Baroque style for
violence, dramatic shifts of light and
energetic draperies
Ecstasy of St. Theresa, Bernini, 1645-52, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome,
Marble

Key Points:
• Small side chapel, with
a window used as a
light source
• Angel of love pierces
the heart of St. Theresa
• According to her vision,
the pain was dreadful,
yet so sweet she
wanted it to continue
forever
• Floats on a marble
cloud, golden rods
appear as rays of light