Mannerism is as much a term as it is a trend. The word derives from the Italian maniera (style) and traditionally refers to the hyper-sophisticated, courtly art of central Italy dating from about 1520 ...

FOR centuries “Mannerism” has been a dirty word in the art historian’s book, meaning “in the manner of” —or something akin to copycat. Renaissance enthusiasts use it to describe the painters who, in ...

Art critic Waldemar Januszczak delves into the heart of Mannerism, as he explores the development of the art style, examines its characteristics, and questions what it achieved.