Pontormo’s Entombment created in c.1528 and Parmigianino’s Madonna with the Long Neck made in c.1535-1640 are both very similar in the Late Renaissance period. During these periods, a lot of paintings have changed over time. A new style of art has risen in the Late Renaissance called Mannerism. It has been known that the Late Renaissance went downhill after Mannerist paintings were made. They couldn’t compare to the High Renaissance because of the unusual naturalism. For example, Pontormo’s Entombment and Parmigianino’s Madonna with the Long Neck, both portray elements of the Mannerist paintings, such as clashing colors, elongated bodies, and strange themes. This was a major difference from the Early and High Renaissance period because these specific Mannerist paintings were far from any Michelangelo or Leonardo Di Vinci painting!
The Entombment painting is almost an awkward painting. the bodies are so elongated, it looks very unnatural. Madonna with the Long Neck also appears to have a very extended neck making her look unusual and abnormal. I’ve noticed in the Late Renaissance paintings have changed dramatically. Paintings are starting to become unnatural and the character’s emotions are changing as well. The specific detail in each painting is also lacking. The Entombment definitely fits in the Mannerist category because the people are placed in exotic poses, along with contorted bodies, and dramatic colors. The people’s faces are not very detailed, it’s almost like Pontormo wanted the audience to focus more on the bodies and the drama, rather than the specific details. Madonna with the Long Neck is also depicted this way. She is holding a child in her arms, but because the body is so long it looks like a much older boy. Her long limbs and fingers throw off the naturalism in this piece of art. The colors in this painting are not as drastic as the Entombment, but the details of the long bodies make these paintings very similar.
It’s interesting to see these paintings because they are so theatrical, especially because they both have the virgin in them. The Entombment has a sexual feel, not like most paintings that have the virgin in them. One major difference between these two, are the facial expressions. Madonna and the angels seem to be very astonished by the child and are intrigued, whereas the Entombment has a very sad feel, yet the bodies created in an extremely sensual way. Parmigianino’s painting seems a lot more formal than Pontormo’s painting. The colors are drastically different between the two and the Madonna is more believable than the Entombment in terms of “normal”. Even though Madonna has a very large neck and a large baby, the painting is more settled than the other. Both paintings have restrained naturalism and have unclear perspectives. Also, the Madonna painting is not proportioned; most of the activeness is represented on only the left side of the painting, with few details in the background. The Entombment is well more proportioned, yet it seems as if the characters in the background are floating.
I do think that there is less prominent elongation in Pontormo's painting (especially in comparison with Parmigianino's work), but there still is some elongation. For example, the back of the figure in the foreground (the back that is bright pink!) is quite long. Other figures have long legs or longer torsos, too.
ReplyDelete-Prof. Bowen
Madonna with the Long Neck definitely stands out to me more as a Mannerist style painting than The Entombment for some reason. Although there are so many similarities that you pointed out, I am able to make more sense of composition of the Entombment, maybe because it is more centered than Madonna with the Long Neck.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these paintings really do reflect Mannerism. Unnatural (and sometimes unsettling) postures and gestures fill both of these pieces. Pontormo seemed to focus on the theatricality of facial expression (though not without some elongation) and Parmigianino really seemed to be fascinated by the lengthening of the body.
ReplyDeleteI think you made a good point in noticing the imbalance of the Madonna with the Long Neck. Though I'm sure this isn't the case, it looks like the pillar and figurine/statue where placed as an afterthought to balance it out (though they hardly achieve the effect of balancing the composition). On the Entombment, you're point about Pontormo's efforts to focus the audience's attention on the drama and poses makes sense to me. This would be in line with Mannerism's ideals and goals as well.
ReplyDeleteTyler Leavitt