Mannerist art was characterized by select one: a. formality, balance, and restraint. b. distorted human figures and unnatural lighting effects. c. extravagant use of bright colors and abstract design. d. emphasis on decorative design. e. simplicity in human figures, similar to gothic sculpture.

The answer is b. distorted human figures and unnatural lighting effects.

Explanation:

Mannerist art or mannerism was born in the 16th century as a response to the classical style and the Renaissance art ruled by Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Mannerist art is a specific style designed to illustrate figures in an artificial and bizarre but elegant way.

As a distinction, they focus on portraits of subjects with elongated limbs and small heads. Mannerist artists distorted human figures in their paintings. They focus more on the artifice rather than a realistic portrayal of humans.