Follower of Agnolo Bronzino
Italy, ca. 1503-72
Mary Magdalen
Museum purchase, 55.80
During the 16th century the focus moved from trying to make the figures as believable as possible while also depicting their holy perfection, to emphasizing idealization and a stylization that often resulted in bizarre effects. The art of this period is called mannerist, after its exaggeratedly elongated or "mannered" style. Thus in the painting Mary Magdalen by a follower of Agnolo Bronzino, the woman depicted has larger eyes, smoother skin, more perfectly curled hair, a more oval face, and a longer neck than one finds in life. She is so idealized that she has ceased to look realistic. In Christ Carrying the Cross the figures are squeezed closer together than they could be in life, and the rich colors and elaborate decoration of their costumes are fanciful.
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Gallery Guide: Early European Art
