Jacopo Pontormo

Jacopo Pontormo (1494-1557) was an Italian painter and a prominent member of the Mannerist movement. He was born in Empoli, Tuscany, and trained under the painter Andrea del Sarto. Pontormo was known for his experimental and unconventional approach to art, which challenged the Renaissance conventions of proportion and perspective. His works were characterized by elongated figures with contorted poses, intense expressions, and vibrant colors. He was commissioned to decorate the Capponi Chapel in Florence, where he painted one of his most famous works, "The Deposition from the Cross" (1525-1528). Pontormo's work had a profound influence on later Mannerist artists, and his legacy can be seen in the works of artists such as Parmigianino and Rosso Fiorentino. Despite his contributions to the art world, Pontormo was often misunderstood during his lifetime and struggled to find consistent patronage.