B)
1. Northern Renaissance: Portrait of a Man – Jan Van Eyck
2. Catholic Reformation: Madonna with the Long Neck - Parmigianino
3. Aristocratic: Laughing Cavalier – Frans Hal
4. Protestant Reformation: Noli me tangere - Hans Holbein the Younger
5. Catholic Reformation: Girl with the Pearl Earring – Jan Vermeer The period of Mannerism first came about in Europe during the 1500s. The works created during this period were often influenced by the harmonious ideals of artists such as da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. Well known for its intellectual sophistication and preoccupation with artificiality and artiness, the works of this time were often formulaic, theatrical and over-stylized. The figures in Mannerist art often portrayed as graceful, with elongated limbs, small heads and stylized facial features. The poses used are difficult or deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously. Unlike Renaissance paintings, Mannerism works favored compositional tension rather than balance and clarity. These artists favored the unorthodoxy of something new and expected, perhaps making them the first modern artists. The majority of these works had a religious subject, as the Christian church had much influence during these years.
A leading example of a Mannerism painting is Madonna of the Long Neck by Italian painter Parmigianino. The oil on wood painting is currently held in Uffizi, Florence. The image depicts the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus surrounded by six angels. Just as in the title of the painting, the Holy Virgin is drawn with very swan-like, long neck in order to give her a look of grace and elegance – just as all of Mannerism paintings aimed for. Another Mannerism feature used in the painting is the confusing depth of field and distribution of figures. Instead of spreading the adoring angels around the central figures, they are all crammed