Mannerism

The word mannerism derives from the Italian maniera, meaning "style" or "manner.” The mannerism period of the renaissance was defined by this type style of art that focused on unnatural or unrealistic body proportions, lack of balance, twisted figures, uncomfortable and unstable compositions. The mannerist style became very popular in southern Europe hence the reason mannerism derives from Italian. When looking at the two works of art, Abraham Janssens, The Origin of the Cornucopia, ca. 1619 and Vincent Sellaer, Leda and the Swan and Her Children, ca. 1540, it is clear that they both represent this style of art.

            When looking at Abraham Janssens, The Origin of the Cornucopia one of the first things that I noticed was that how the bodies were not realistically proportioned. When looking at the women depicted they are all incredibly muscular applies to the mannerist style of unnatural body proportions. The main woman depicted at the front right of the painting has a huge muscular arms resembling more of an idealistic depiction of a man’s muscles than that of a woman’s. It also seems as though most of the characters in the painting are also sitting in awkward positions which would be hard to maintain for any long period of time. After looking at Abraham Janssens work of art it I noticed a few similarities in the representation of anatomy when observing Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment, Sistine Chapel” painting. In his painting women are represented in the same very muscular way which makes their body look unnatural. Another similarity between the two works of art is the awkward body positions. Although the characters in Janssens work of art look like they are in a fairly unnatural position, there are quite a few characters in Michelangelo’s painting that are in very unnatural positions. When looking at the two it is clear that Michelangelo has taken the awkward body positions, and twisted figures to an extreme, compared to Janssens more moderate approach.

            The next painting that I observed was Vincent Sellaer’s, “Leda and the Swan and Her Children.” When I first observed this painting I had trouble finding the mannerist style. But after closer examination I noticed that the children, especially the one in the front left are has a twisted body that fits in with the mannerism period. I also think that the way that the woman is resting her hand on the child’s head and her elbow on the swan makes the composition of the painting a little uncomfortable. It looks very awkward because it doesn’t look as though she is resting her hand on the child’s head because she is comforting him, but because she is using him as an armrest. The awkwardness applies to the way that she is resting her elbow on the swan as well. It is like she is using the swan and the children to help make herself more comfortable. Through the awkward composition and twisted body of the child it makes this picture fit in with the mannerist style of artwork.

            Overall the paintings by Abraham Janssens and Vincent Sellaer represent the mannerist style of art through the use of twisting bodies, unnatural body proportions, and unnatural composition.