16th Century Italian ArtThe High Renaissance and Mannerism

1500--1599

Guiding Question/s

Why should the artist be privileged?

Because he makes his own decisions (more and more)

Because he is divinely inspired

Because of his personal style

Geography of Focus

Sack of Rome in 1527

Ends the High Renaissance and brings about Mannerism

Counter Reformation

A Catholic attempt to combat Protestantism

Council of Trent in 1533—1563

An attempt by the Church to reform itself

Leads to the Roman Inquisition

Pope Julius the II and Pope Leo X

Major patrons trying to rebuild Rome to its former (ancient) glory

Guiding Events and FiguresThese may be political, scientific, literary, philosophical, religious

MUSIC

Palestrina

Music Director for the Vatican

Simplifies the Mass for the lay person

Forms characterized by a traditional, “Gregorian Chant”-like style

Baldasarre Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier

Emphasizes nonchalance as a character to adopt as an educated person

Reflections of the AgePHILOSOPHY

RENAISSANCE

Symmetrical compositions

Harmonious colors

Proportional figures

Illusions of space

Themes are rational, Greco-Roman

Asymmetrical compositions

Cold, surprising colors (Michelangelo)

Disproportionate Figures

No illusions of space

Themes are mysterious, abstracted

A Comparison

MANNERISM

PARMIGIANINO, Madonna with the Long Neck, MANNERISM

Characteristics:

Disproportionate figures

Elongated fingers, neck of Mary

Elongated thigh to far left

Elongated body of Christ child

Asymmetrical Composition

Figures compacted to left side

Head Cluster

Background Irrational

No illusion of receding space

In subsequent presentations, you will learn more about:

The four main artists of the High Renaissance, their characters, and their primary stylistic contributions

How Mannerism rejects the Renaissance

These presentations will prepare you to incorporate the information in the assignments and assessments for the week