Madonna with the Long Neck
1534-1540
Parmigianino threw out the Renaissance rulebook on perfect proportions to create this delightfully weird Mannerist masterpiece. Mary sports a neck so long and elegant it resembles a swan's, while the baby Jesus is stretched out like taffy, looking surprisingly limp as he slides off her lap. A crowd of angels squeezes in on the left, peering over her shoulder with intense curiosity, while a tiny prophet stands alone on the right next to a column that doesn't seem to support anything. The artist actually died before finishing the piece, leaving the right side feeling a bit empty compared to the chaotic beauty on the left.
- Dimensions
- 216 cm × 132 cm
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence
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