Twee gevleugelde putti 1513 - 1540

Parmigianino made this drawing of two winged putti with pen in brown ink in the 16th century. In Renaissance Italy, the Church and wealthy patrons were the primary sponsors of the arts, shaping artistic production. Parmigianino’s career was spent between his native Parma and Rome, two major artistic centers of the period. This work, a sketch of nude children, reflects the Renaissance interest in classical antiquity. The rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman art and literature influenced artists to study the human form and explore mythological themes. The drawing’s focus on idealised beauty is typical of the Renaissance artistic values and also possibly indicative of his position as an in-demand artist within courtly circles. Looking at the artist’s influences and contemporaries through archive material offers more insight into the cultural milieu in which he worked. By understanding the social and institutional context, we can better understand the art of the Italian Renaissance.