wˈɜːkɪŋ ɪn pɹˈɑːɡ æz ɐ kˈoːɹt ˈɑːɹɾɪst fɚðə hˈoʊli ɹˈoʊmən ˈɛmpɚɹɚ ɹˈuːdɑːlf ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː, hiː ɹᵻspˈɑːndᵻd tə hɪz pˈeɪtɹənz ɛsθˈɛɾɪk pɹˈɛfɹənsᵻz baɪ dɪvˈɛləpɪŋ ɐ vˈɜːʒən ʌvðɪ ɛkstɹˈiːm stˈaɪl wˌɪtʃ hɐz bɪkˌʌm nˈoʊn æz nˈɔːɹðɚn mˈænɚɹˌɪzəm.
Working in Prague as a court artist for the Holy Roman emperor Rudolf II, he responded to his patron's aesthetic preferences by developing a version of the extreme style which has become known as Northern Mannerism.