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Mannerism
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Mannerism is the transitional period between Renaissance and Baroque. Based on political, social and religious changes, this period is considered a time of confusion and search for redemption. Copernicus developed his new worldview, the Reformation brought religious confusion and bloody confrontations with itself, and Philosophy designed its theory of the infinity of space. Thus, around 1520, changes could also be noted in the art. While the Renaissance had perfected the discovery of natural corporeality and perspective rearrangement of space, the artists then tried to surpass the great achievements by depicting their figures in complicated rotations and with large three-dimensional effects. Michelangelo's later work reflects this search for spirituality and salvation: in his work "The Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel, he depicted a variety of figures front of a surreal background. Here and in the monumentality of his ceiling figures, depicted in far too small surroundings, his preference for contrasts can be observed, an attribute, which is characteristic for Mannerism and which was ignored up to the 20th century. Originating from the Italian artists Pontormo and Fiorentino, the latter of which went to France in 1530 to found the School of Fontainebleau, many artists adapted the Mannerist innovations: this can be observed in paintings with a penchant for restless compositions, distorted proportions, violently twisted figures, stained to gaudy colors, seemingly endless spaces, up to and including lack of any trace of perspective. A counter-movement to the exaggerated, but still sensual figure representation of the School of Fontainebleau can be seen in the Spanish artist El Greco: his often elongated figures are evidence of a psychological spirituality. This trend can also be observed in the Mannerist portraits: the portrayed people appear caged and hampered on the one hand, but imbued with spirituality on the other hand. Besides El Greco, also the Prague Court of Rudolf II was considered a stronghold of v: Artists like Spranger, Hans von Aachen and J. Heintz gathered there. Until 1600, this period of upheaval offered all kind of experimental possibilities, until fading into Baroque shortly afterwards, which, in turn, based on those achievements.
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Mannerism
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Oil Paintings