Italian School

This portrait of Francesco Mazzola, known as Parmigianino, is an extremely rare print, of which we were able to find just one other impression in the collection of the British Museum in London (inv. W,1.1). Nothing is known about the author of the work, which can be dated by means of the watermark to around 1560. It could be a reproduction of a painted self-portrait of Parmigianino – a possibility suggested by another etched portrait of the same type from the 19th century bearing the inscription “Le Parmesan pinx.t” and “Landon direx.t”. This was published in 1807 by the Parisian etcher, art critic and publisher, Charles-Paul Landon, in the 9th volume of the collection of portraits entitled Galerie historique des hommes les plus celebres de tous les siecles et de toutes les nations (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, inv. PORT_00006431_04). The prints may be related to the portrait of a man from the circle around Parmigianino in Parma (Complesso monumentale della Pilotta, inv. GN354), whose features strongly resemble those of the person on the present sheet, although the design of the turban, hair and collar is simplified in the print. A very fine, crisp impression with delicate plate tone, with thread margins on the right and at the bottom, trimmed into the image on the left. In excellent condition.

8.500 €