Mannerism

Mannerism is a stylistic phase in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian Renaissance, roughly from 1520 to 1600. The term, derived from the Italian maniera meaning “style” or “manner,” was used by critics to describe works that departed from the balanced harmony and ideal proportions of the High Renaissance.

Characteristically, Mannerist works emphasize elegance, refinement, and artificiality over naturalistic clarity. Figures are often elongated or contorted, poses are sculptural and sometimes frontal, and compositions can be crowded or inscrutable. Color schemes may be cool or mannered, light and space are manipulated for drama rather than strict realism, and intellectual or enigmatic meanings are common. The aim is often grace and sophistication rather than the quiet ideal of Renaissance harmony.

Origins and development occurred mainly in Florence and Rome, with influential activity also in Mantua, Parma, and Bologna. Artists sought to express individuality and virtuosity within a heightened, nontraditional language that could convey emotion, ambiguity, and complexity. Notable early practitioners include Parmigianino, Pontormo, Rosso Fiorentino, and Jacopo da Bronzino, followed by Giulio Romano and other painters and architects who extended the style into late 16th-century courts and churches.

Impact and decline: Mannerism overlapped with the later Renaissance and laid groundwork for the Baroque through its tension, theatricality, and stylistic experimentation. While most Italian centers moved toward Baroque by the mid- to late 17th century, Mannerist tendencies persisted in various regions, influencing painters in Spain, France, and Northern Europe.