Pontormo, Mannerism and the Origin of Spandex
Jul 28, 2008
This is Jacopo Pontormo’s famous Deposition, in Santa Felicita, one of the oldest churches in Florence. It was painted in 1528, and if you look carefully, you will see that it marks the first recorded appearance of brightly colored spandex clothing.
Pontormo was a Mannerist painter, which basically means that to him Michelangelo was a Godlike figure, and the only type of worthwhile art is a sort of subsequent generation homage to his work. So you’ve got the emphasis on the contorted, muscular bodies all jigsawed together, with an added stylization that basically ignores physics (try to get in the same position as the kneeling figure in pink in the foreground. Then have someone put something really heavy on your shoulders and see what happens). But Michelangelo painted/sculpted everyone nude, and he got a lot of crap from the rich people hiring him because of the hideous and unholy human body. Since he was the Man, he could do whatever he wanted. Pontormo didn’t have the same power. End result: spandex. The grotesque human bodies are covered, but the manner-of-Michelangelo is retained. Every 80’s band should be worshipping Pontormo.
Having said that, I love this painting. This church was about two blocks from where I lived in Florence, so I have seen it in person multiple times (in spite of the fact that it’s basically always closed). It’s strange because it’s a very large painting, but it’s sort of hidden in a corner, trapped behind a wrought iron gate which really obstructs the view (see below; I didn’t take either one of those pictures). You can put in a few Euro to turn on the spotlights, but (like basically every painting) the colors look much more impressive in the somewhat sparse natural lighting of the church. Next time you’re in Florence stop by and personally witness a great moment in history.
click here to see a goat in a lycra unitard. Fantastic.
