Mannerism Art: Origins and Characteristics

• The Mannerist period followed the High Renaissance, spanning from the 1520s to around 1600.
• Art historians coined the term "Mannerism" in the 19th century to categorize art that deviated from the High Renaissance ideals of precision and perfection.
• Mannerist art is characterized by asymmetry, unnatural elegance, and compositional tension, contrasting with the balance and clarity of earlier Renaissance art.
• Artificial qualities are emphasized over naturalistic portrayals in Mannerism.

Historical and Political Changes

• Mannerism emerged as a reaction against the High Renaissance's emphasis on harmony, balance, and naturalism.
• The Protestant Reformation challenged the Catholic Church's authority, leading to religious conflicts across Europe.
• The Catholic Church responded with the Counter-Reformation to reaffirm its authority and combat the spread of Protestantism.
• Mannerist art reflected spiritual anxiety, doubt, and mysticism amidst religious turmoil.
• Italy was politically fragmented during the Mannerist period, with city-states and regions controlled by various rulers.
• Political instability and uncertainty influenced the art and literature of the time.
• Artists relied on patronage from wealthy aristocrats, rulers, and church officials.
• Courts served as important centers of artistic patronage, with rulers commissioning art to showcase their wealth and power.
• Mannerist art catered to an elite audience, appreciated for its intellectual complexity and artistic virtuosity.

Religious Upheaval

• Europe experienced religious upheaval during the 1500s and mid-1600s due to the Protestant Reformation, Catholic Counter-Reformation, and religious wars.

The Protestant Reformation

• The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century religious movement that aimed to reform the Roman Catholic Church's practices and beliefs.
• The Reformation led to the establishment of Protestantism as a major branch of Christianity.
• Criticisms of the Catholic Church included the sale of indulgences, nepotism, and the lifestyles of the clergy.
• Johannes Gutenberg's printing press facilitated the rapid dissemination of ideas critical of the Church around 1440.
• The Bible was translated and printed in vernacular languages, making it accessible to everyday people.
• Increased literacy, emphasis on human experience (as seen in Dante's Divine Comedy), and the study of the Classics led to awareness of discrepancies between early Christianity and contemporary Catholic practices.
• Various Protestant denominations were established, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, and Anabaptism.
• The Reformation diminished the power of the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire.
• The rise of nation-states occurred, and secular rulers gained increased power because of the Reformation.
• Europe divided into a generally northern Protestant section and a southern Catholic section.
• Vernacular languages were promoted in art, music, and literature due to the Reformation.
• Religious conflicts like the French Wars of Religion, the Thirty Years' War, and the English Civil War were spurred by the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.
• Questioning of religious authority laid the groundwork for the later Enlightenment and the development of modern secularism.
• Protestant missionary efforts spread Protestantism worldwide during the colonial period.

Impact on Art

• Kingdoms rarely permitted mixed populations of Catholic and Protestant religions.
• When a ruler changed sects, the entire area had to convert.
• Many Protestant sects did not approve of religious art.
• In Northern Europe, many Catholic churches became Protestant.
• Northern Europe church art was taken out, destroyed, or painted over.
• More art from the south exists today because the south didn’t have much religious conversion, and the art remained where it was created, in situ.
• In the north, art swiftly changed to favor landscapes, still-life, and portraits of guild members and business associations.
• Much of the art in northern churches was removed, destroyed, or covered up.