Mannerism in the Mid to Late 16th Century

Mannerism is a fairly modern term developed to describe a period between Renaissance and Baroque (around 1520-1600). It marks a change in attitudes toward proportion, balance, artifice, and shapes in spaces. For example, the use of ovals instead of circles introduces ideas of dynamic versus static. A sense of movement is created, and this goes back to the focus on humans and emotion. We begin to see a departure from the orderly reign of Renaissance rules. Mannerism, or at least the term, is about creating a surreal environment of emotional unrest. This may have been in response to the turmoil of the times, which included the Sack of Rome and the plague. Week 8 will explore concepts of Mannerism in Rome, Florence, and Northern Italy.