There are some who argue that Mannerism is more than merely the late period of the Renaissance. Rather, they contend, Mannerism reflects the rise of the Protestant Reformation and the resultant anxiety prevalent in the Church at the time.
The term renaissance is similar to rebirth and it refers to artistic movement which started in Italy in the fourteenth century and ended in the sixteenth century. During this period, several aspects of the classical Roman Empire such as its sculpture, art, literature and philosophy were being reinvented by scholars and artists. Mannerism is a style of art that focuses on human form, portrayed in exaggerated poses that is not realistic in nature. Art during the renaissance period concentrated on the harmonious balance of composition, naturalism and color. After evolution, art became more sensual through the use of exaggeration, jarring colors and artificial perspective. The term mannerism was coined from an Italian word maniera which means style.
This style originated from Florence and Rome between the year 1520 and 1600, and marked the evolution of an art style used during the renaissance period into a distorted and more emotional form (Cheney, 1997). Although mannerism developed during the late period of renaissance, it should not be portrayed merely as the end of renaissance since mannerism marks the rise of protestant reformation and a change in the style of art. This essay shall certainly explore the fundamental concepts that underlie the state of mannerism in terms of the artistic development of the renaissance period. It shall address the question, what was the exact scope of mannerism
Mannerism marked the end renaissance and to a certain extent, this period portrays the rise of protestant revolution owing to the decreasing authority of the Catholic Church. Generally, manneristic art brings out a tense and anxious impression which is different from the serene atmosphere created by the renaissance. Europe was undergoing a series of social, religious and economic crisis in the 16th century. It was also experiencing economic, political and religious crisis in the 16th century. The turmoil led to the disruption of the political stability established in the 15th century, leading to the redistribution of powers in several countries which caused social instability (Maniates, 1979). Major events transpired during the protestant and catholic transformation which divided the two institutions permanently. Historically, this movement was initiated by a series of both political and religious events that were happening in Italy among them being the forceful invasion by Germany and France.
The protestant reformation was formally initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 after he came up with a different thesis. The Catholic Church was accused of being corrupt and bureaucratic among other administrative incompetence. By propagating the ideas of reform, the movement led to the revolution and invention of mannerism art. The Catholic Church countered this in the year1545 by instituting a Council of Trent. As the pace of reform geared up, the Catholic Church tried to win back members and reestablish its secular and religious domination. Despite the fact that the movement started as a religious activity, the results had major political impact with both entities urging their followers to align themselves to a specific movement.
The nature of mannerism has often been debated and compared to high renaissance. Some experts compare it with renaissance classicism while others see it as its logical extension and the evolution of Michelangelos modeling and Raphaels refinements. Mannerists were often accused of destroying the harmony of renaissance classicism, its mixture of aesthetic values and ideas, and its combination of mass and content, (Bousquet, Taylor, 1964, p.102). Although currently classicism does not possess the unique claim of perfection, mannerism tends to emerge openly as a joint between the high renaissance and the ones popular and broad baroque art that proceeded. The role of classics on art and literature, which was being influenced by renaissance, begun to decline, while other ideas such as capitalism, national pride, and absolutism, continued to grow.
Prints in the form of engravings and etching were the major styles used by mannerist in spreading art throughout Europe. Although the protestant revolution spread rapidly in many parts of northern Europe, Italy remained staunch followers of Catholic Church and adhered to Counter Reformation. Different protestant groups opposed the use of art in the church environs while the Catholic Church, which had been a major patron of art, emphasized on the importance of visual art in spreading personal faith, (Daniells, 1963, p.23).
Despite the fact that mannerism emerged at a time of crisis, it continued to grow and took the form of aesthetic expression. Many scholars argue that mannerism became a distinct style towards mid century before the beginning of religious struggles, and it was not intended to compete with Counter Reformation movement. That role had already been played by the Baroque. Mannerism is described as a violent reaction to renaissance and a departure from its basic ideals and order (Franzsepp, Michael, 1963). The way in which art was evolving in the 16th century led to a departure from classical principles, plain reasoning and normative proportions of the high renaissance.
Its only after 1580 after the decrees released by the council of tenet which enacted the official policies of creating religious art, that we start to analyze Counter Reformation on a wider perspective. Catholic Church refused to acknowledge the exclusiveness of the mannerist and their main focus was to lure back people who had joined the protestant movement. Elements of mannerism can be accessed in the Laurentian library in Florence, made by Michelangelo massimi palace in Rome by Peruzzi and Palazzo del Te in Mantua, designed by Giulio Romano.
Civilization and industrialization changed the way in which people analyze day to day activities and the works of art that reflect these changes are several. To start with, Baroque is a style of art which gained popularity between the 16th and 18th century. It became successful after the Roman Catholic Church, during the Council of Tenet, accepted the use of art in communicating religious themes. The paintings are less ambiguous, more stylish and baroque architecture can be found in churches, palaces, reception areas and courts (Maniates, 1979). Baroque art can be found in Luxembourg palace in Germany and Cornaro chapel in Saint Maria.
Another work of art is the Rococo style which emerged in the 18th century. Being a French art, Rococo style has been used in designing elegant furniture, ornamental mirrors, wall paintings and small sculptures. Rococo has been widely acknowledged as a major phase in the development and evolution of European art. This style was mostly used in decorative arts in houses and interior designs. Moreover, it extended from France to catholic regions in Germany and Austria. Solitude Palace in Germany and the Bavarian church in Wies boast of Rococo styles of interior design and they act as reflection of how the style reached the European architecture. Rococo paintings were done using delicate colors depicting leisurely activities. Moreover, this style was also used in designing of sculptures through the use of porcelain which reflect a theme of love and cheerfulness.
The third work of art which had a major effect on European art is neoclassicism. It utilizes different movements in decorative arts, literature, music, visual arts and architecture. These movements were commonly used between 18th and 19th century and reflected on the culture practiced in ancient Greece. Neoclassical paintings acted as a change from Baroque and Rococo styles of art and usually boast of sharp colors and finer details. An example of French neoclassicism is Jacques Louis David, whose works reflect both roman and Greek items in portraying the French revolution (Bousquet, Taylor, 1964). Neoclassicism initially gained popularity in France and United Kingdom after French students were trained and influenced by Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and his ideas spread widely. Many public buildings in Europe have been built using neoclassical styles.
Chiaroscuro is an Italian art which makes use of contrast between lighter and darker colors. Its used as a reflection of bold and light contrast which aims at producing three dimensional objects like human bodies. Similar effects that use chiaroscuro style include the lighting in cinemas and photographic pictures. This style was first used during the renaissance where artist drew on colored papers using different tones of light and dark ink or color. This style is often used in cinematography especially black and white movies and its also common in modeling and paintings. The fifth work of art which evolved in the 21st century is rational art which Nicolas Boourriaud defines it as the general set of practices of creation that basically take both their practical as well as their theoretical departure points from the whole overview of their relationship with human beings (Cheney, 19970. In this art, people are portrayed as a community rather than objects in the paintings. This style of painting rest on the rationale that a piece of art is identified by the inter-human concept it produces.
The term renaissance is similar to rebirth and it refers to artistic movement which started in Italy in the fourteenth century and ended in the sixteenth century. During this period, several aspects of the classical Roman Empire such as its sculpture, art, literature and philosophy were being reinvented by scholars and artists. Mannerism is a style of art that focuses on human form, portrayed in exaggerated poses that is not realistic in nature. Art during the renaissance period concentrated on the harmonious balance of composition, naturalism and color. After evolution, art became more sensual through the use of exaggeration, jarring colors and artificial perspective. The term mannerism was coined from an Italian word maniera which means style.
This style originated from Florence and Rome between the year 1520 and 1600, and marked the evolution of an art style used during the renaissance period into a distorted and more emotional form (Cheney, 1997). Although mannerism developed during the late period of renaissance, it should not be portrayed merely as the end of renaissance since mannerism marks the rise of protestant reformation and a change in the style of art. This essay shall certainly explore the fundamental concepts that underlie the state of mannerism in terms of the artistic development of the renaissance period. It shall address the question, what was the exact scope of mannerism
Mannerism marked the end renaissance and to a certain extent, this period portrays the rise of protestant revolution owing to the decreasing authority of the Catholic Church. Generally, manneristic art brings out a tense and anxious impression which is different from the serene atmosphere created by the renaissance. Europe was undergoing a series of social, religious and economic crisis in the 16th century. It was also experiencing economic, political and religious crisis in the 16th century. The turmoil led to the disruption of the political stability established in the 15th century, leading to the redistribution of powers in several countries which caused social instability (Maniates, 1979). Major events transpired during the protestant and catholic transformation which divided the two institutions permanently. Historically, this movement was initiated by a series of both political and religious events that were happening in Italy among them being the forceful invasion by Germany and France.
The protestant reformation was formally initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 after he came up with a different thesis. The Catholic Church was accused of being corrupt and bureaucratic among other administrative incompetence. By propagating the ideas of reform, the movement led to the revolution and invention of mannerism art. The Catholic Church countered this in the year1545 by instituting a Council of Trent. As the pace of reform geared up, the Catholic Church tried to win back members and reestablish its secular and religious domination. Despite the fact that the movement started as a religious activity, the results had major political impact with both entities urging their followers to align themselves to a specific movement.
The nature of mannerism has often been debated and compared to high renaissance. Some experts compare it with renaissance classicism while others see it as its logical extension and the evolution of Michelangelos modeling and Raphaels refinements. Mannerists were often accused of destroying the harmony of renaissance classicism, its mixture of aesthetic values and ideas, and its combination of mass and content, (Bousquet, Taylor, 1964, p.102). Although currently classicism does not possess the unique claim of perfection, mannerism tends to emerge openly as a joint between the high renaissance and the ones popular and broad baroque art that proceeded. The role of classics on art and literature, which was being influenced by renaissance, begun to decline, while other ideas such as capitalism, national pride, and absolutism, continued to grow.
Prints in the form of engravings and etching were the major styles used by mannerist in spreading art throughout Europe. Although the protestant revolution spread rapidly in many parts of northern Europe, Italy remained staunch followers of Catholic Church and adhered to Counter Reformation. Different protestant groups opposed the use of art in the church environs while the Catholic Church, which had been a major patron of art, emphasized on the importance of visual art in spreading personal faith, (Daniells, 1963, p.23).
Despite the fact that mannerism emerged at a time of crisis, it continued to grow and took the form of aesthetic expression. Many scholars argue that mannerism became a distinct style towards mid century before the beginning of religious struggles, and it was not intended to compete with Counter Reformation movement. That role had already been played by the Baroque. Mannerism is described as a violent reaction to renaissance and a departure from its basic ideals and order (Franzsepp, Michael, 1963). The way in which art was evolving in the 16th century led to a departure from classical principles, plain reasoning and normative proportions of the high renaissance.
Its only after 1580 after the decrees released by the council of tenet which enacted the official policies of creating religious art, that we start to analyze Counter Reformation on a wider perspective. Catholic Church refused to acknowledge the exclusiveness of the mannerist and their main focus was to lure back people who had joined the protestant movement. Elements of mannerism can be accessed in the Laurentian library in Florence, made by Michelangelo massimi palace in Rome by Peruzzi and Palazzo del Te in Mantua, designed by Giulio Romano.
Civilization and industrialization changed the way in which people analyze day to day activities and the works of art that reflect these changes are several. To start with, Baroque is a style of art which gained popularity between the 16th and 18th century. It became successful after the Roman Catholic Church, during the Council of Tenet, accepted the use of art in communicating religious themes. The paintings are less ambiguous, more stylish and baroque architecture can be found in churches, palaces, reception areas and courts (Maniates, 1979). Baroque art can be found in Luxembourg palace in Germany and Cornaro chapel in Saint Maria.
Another work of art is the Rococo style which emerged in the 18th century. Being a French art, Rococo style has been used in designing elegant furniture, ornamental mirrors, wall paintings and small sculptures. Rococo has been widely acknowledged as a major phase in the development and evolution of European art. This style was mostly used in decorative arts in houses and interior designs. Moreover, it extended from France to catholic regions in Germany and Austria. Solitude Palace in Germany and the Bavarian church in Wies boast of Rococo styles of interior design and they act as reflection of how the style reached the European architecture. Rococo paintings were done using delicate colors depicting leisurely activities. Moreover, this style was also used in designing of sculptures through the use of porcelain which reflect a theme of love and cheerfulness.
The third work of art which had a major effect on European art is neoclassicism. It utilizes different movements in decorative arts, literature, music, visual arts and architecture. These movements were commonly used between 18th and 19th century and reflected on the culture practiced in ancient Greece. Neoclassical paintings acted as a change from Baroque and Rococo styles of art and usually boast of sharp colors and finer details. An example of French neoclassicism is Jacques Louis David, whose works reflect both roman and Greek items in portraying the French revolution (Bousquet, Taylor, 1964). Neoclassicism initially gained popularity in France and United Kingdom after French students were trained and influenced by Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and his ideas spread widely. Many public buildings in Europe have been built using neoclassical styles.
Chiaroscuro is an Italian art which makes use of contrast between lighter and darker colors. Its used as a reflection of bold and light contrast which aims at producing three dimensional objects like human bodies. Similar effects that use chiaroscuro style include the lighting in cinemas and photographic pictures. This style was first used during the renaissance where artist drew on colored papers using different tones of light and dark ink or color. This style is often used in cinematography especially black and white movies and its also common in modeling and paintings. The fifth work of art which evolved in the 21st century is rational art which Nicolas Boourriaud defines it as the general set of practices of creation that basically take both their practical as well as their theoretical departure points from the whole overview of their relationship with human beings (Cheney, 19970. In this art, people are portrayed as a community rather than objects in the paintings. This style of painting rest on the rationale that a piece of art is identified by the inter-human concept it produces.
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