To initiate my discussion, consider the painting by Raphael called The School of Athens, which exemplifies the humanist philosophy of higher learning and a return to the classical …show more content…
Within the stylings of Pontormo can be seen a strong representation of the difference between the two. Mannerism is not concerned with perspective and balance as much as it is subject and a romantic representation of the allegory. In his painting, Entombment of Christ, Pontormo follows a vertical access as opposed to the horizontal plain. “unlike High Renaissance artists, who had concentrated their masses in the center of the painting, Pontormo left a void-symbolic of loss and grief.” Instead the viewer sees the interaction of characters represented by the emotions and state of mind they are emulating. An ethereal quality exists in the composition with smaller oval shaped heads and elongated limbs which convey elegance and the romantic ideal of youth and beauty. Mary seems to fall back away from the body of Christ as if to faint and her mouth is open as though she is letting out a gasp or a sorrowful cry. The faces of the other figures are worrisome and concerned as they look in different directions with a mixture of concern and loss. There is no precise setting or landscape to help define the composition. This otherworldly portrayal of a familiar subject choses instead to allow the viewer to experience the emotions of the individuals or the grasp their thoughts. Drawn into the narrative as though they were a part of the romanticized manner of the story. This form of paint …show more content…
Each in their own right tells a story of familiar subjects and gathers together characters, as if in a play to tell the story the artist wishes to elicit. Whereas, the humanist is concerned with symmetry and mathematical placement of the subjects as seen in Raphael’s, The School of Athens. On the other hand, Mannerism focused more the romantic illusion and emotions of the subjects. As well as, an idealize view of beauty and youth as seen in Pontormo’s painting, The Entombment of Christ. Each in their own right would influence the generations of painters to come as well as uniquely help us to understand the differences between Humanism and