Mannerism
Mannerism encompasses a variety of approaches influenced by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and early Michelangelo. Where High Renaissance art emphasizes proportion, balance, and ideal beauty, Mannerism exaggerates such qualities, often resulting in compositions that are asymmetrical or unnaturally elegant .[.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannerism
Generally, the Mannerists held on to the elements of Renaissance painting that made it so lifelike, especially those used to create the illusion of three dimensions. But other elements might be distorted, or taken to extremes. Where an earlier generation of painters had sought to create a new sense of harmony and stability, the Mannerists introduced tension and strangeness.
The Mannerists often favored lurid colors such as pinks and oranges or greens and violets over calmer tones. Figures strike exaggerated poses, like modern dancers; sometimes their faces suggest agitation or even torment, but at other times they are oddly expressionless.
(http://study.com/academy/lesson/mannerism-art-definition-characteristics-examples.html)
Michelangelo “David” 1501-1504
Raphael “The school of Athens” 1510-1511
Leonardo Da Vinci “Head of a Woman” 1508
Teaching a class
Objectives
Students will be introduced to the art of Renaissance artist Michelangelo, and will create a subtractive process sculpture.
Materials: Ivory Soap
Butter Knife
Tooth Pick
Lesson
Step 1
Tell students, “Today you will learn basic sculpting techniques and terms as you carveyour own soap sculpture. Michelangelo carved many subtractive process sculptures from large blocks of mable. Weather you start with marble, or a bar of soap, the technique is the same – remove (take away) the stuff that’s not the thing you are sculpting.”
Step 2
Tell students, “Draw a goldfish (or anything else you decide) on the side of your bar of soap.”
Step 3
Tell students, “Carefully cut away the soap until you reach the lines you made to define your goldfish”.
Step 4
Tell students, “Begin to shape your goldfish by rounding the top and bottom, and by flattening the tail. Finally add the eyes.”
Step 5
Tell students, “If you would like to smooth your sculpture out a bit, wet your fingers with water and then rub them over the surface.
http://makingartfun.com/htm/f-maf-art-library/michelangelo-sculpture-lesson.htm