The Sack of Rome in 1527 forced many Italian artists to flee abroad, taking the revolutionary art movement with them. 

As the revolutionary impact of Mannerism spreads, Giulio Romano paints astonishing visions. Also, female artists bring new voices to Western art. 

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.