Many have questioned the unorthodox method that Parmigianino used to set and create the scene in Madonna with the Long Neck. Many have found the painting to be offensive because of the way the artist has exaggerated and manipulated aspects in the sacred theme such as spatial distances and bodily proportions. Compared to the ease and simplicity with which Raphael and other Renaissance artists had painted the ancient theme, Parmigianino's version is rather modern and controversial.