In contrast, Mannerist painters consciously revealed the
constructed nature of their art. In other words, Renaissance artists
generally strove to create art that appeared natural, whereas Mannerist artists were less inclined to disguise the contrived nature of
art production. This is why artifice is a central feature of discussions about Mannerism, and why Mannerist works can seem, appropriately, “mannered.” The conscious display of artifice in Mannerism often reveals itself in imbalanced compositions and unusual
complexities, both visual and conceptual. Ambiguous space, departures
...more
