- Parmigianino, Madonna of the Long Neck, 1534-1540
Pictured above is an Italian Mannerist oil painting by Parmigianino. The Madonna with the Long Neck, also known as Madonna and Child with Angels and St. Jerome. The painting was commissioned for the funerary chapel of Francesco Tagliaferri, but remained incomplete upon his death. However, in 1698, Ferdinando de’ Medici purchased the painting and it has remained on display at the Uffizi Gallery since 1948.
The Madonna is a representation of the Virgin Mary, and seated in her lap is a baby Jesus. In an effort to depict Mary as elegant and beautiful, Parmigianino not only seats her in a high pedestal and dawned in luxurious robes, but also emphasizes her qualities and paints her with a “long neck.” The artist also paints the baby Jesus as much larger than a typical baby, and places him sprawled out across Mary’s lap as angels to their left gaze in adoration. Situated to the right of the central figures of the Madonna and Jesus is a small figure of St. Jerome. The Saint is remembered for his attention to the lives of women and focus on teaching women how to live a devoted life to Jesus.
In comparison to High Renaissance art -- which prioritizes proportionality, balance, and ideal beauty standards -- it is typical for Mannerism art to include figures with exaggerated qualities and and elongated proportions. Parmigianino is most famous for his Mannerist paintings, and his work is typically remembered for elongated and disproportionate figures. The Madonna remained unfinished as Parmigianino’s life and career came to an end in 1527, as war ravaged his home.
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