Mannerism Mockery by Mary

Mannerism Mockery by Mary - August 2013 Scholarship Essay

                The Italian Renaissance is a time-period taught worldwide, but no one really talks about the art movement immediately after so I never knew what followed. Last semester during my art history course I got to find out. Apparently after so many years of mathematical precision and perfect ratios in art a group of artists decided they were sick of it all. These artists started a movement called Mannerism, which is defined by its mockery of Renaissance values. One of the paintings that best demonstrates this is called, “Madonna of the Long Neck.” This painting shows the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, but not in a normal depiction. This painting depicts Mary large enough to merit the title of sideshow freak along with a neck at least three times the length of anything that could physically be possible. Along with the half-giant Mary is an oddly proportioned baby Jesus in her lap. I say in her lap but really the fact that he’s not depicted in a huddled mass on the floor defies all laws of physics.
                This group of artists created many more paintings that also make a mockery of what’s widely regarded as the most enlightened period of human history. Just goes to show that trolls have existed long before the modern day.