MANNERISM
Mannerism was a European art style that gained popularity nearing the end of the Italian Renaissance in the year 1510. It originated in Florence and later spread toward Northern Italy where it would soon soon make its way throughout the rest of central Europe. Mannerism is also derived from the word ‘maniera’ meaning style or stylishness. Mannerism art was highly influenced by The High Renaissance, but instead of trying to replicate this, artists began to greatly exaggerate Renaissance characteristics. It is said that Mannerists would manipulate compositional elements to create a feeling of sophisticated elegance. One of the most significant characteristics of Mannerist art is exaggeration itself. Some examples of exaggeration include unrealistic proportions and elongated body parts. Artists such as Parmigianino demonstrated this technique in his painting, Madonna with the Long Neck, which depicted Madonna with an abnormally long neck holding a large baby Jesus on her lap. Another feature of mannerism style was the addition elaborate decoration that came in the form of excessive and overwhelming amounts of decorative elements. As new innovations were discovered in science, the thought of man being slowly began to fade, and society began to view him as an individual experiencing the many mysteries of life.