Head of Bearded Man (recto); Head of a Girl (verso)

Art Historical Context

This delicate double-sided drawing from the early 16th century captures the refined draftsmanship of Parmigianino, a leading figure of the Mannerist movement. Created between 1503 and 1540, the recto presents a bearded man’s head rendered in red and black chalk, while the verso features a young girl’s head in the same medium, enhanced with pen and gray-brown ink. At just 5 ¾ by 4 7/16 inches, the sheet exemplifies the intimate scale often used for preparatory studies, allowing artists to explore facial expressions, lighting, and character with remarkable sensitivity. Parmigianino’s innovative handling of chalk here highlights his interest in soft modeling and psychological nuance, techniques that distinguished Mannerist drawing from the more linear approach of the High Renaissance. The combination of media on the verso demonstrates his experimental approach to building form and texture. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1906 through the Rogers Fund, the work offers visitors a glimpse into the private creative process behind the elegant, elongated figures that would define Parmigianino’s paintings and prints. Such head studies were essential tools for Renaissance and Mannerist artists, serving as visual notes for larger compositions while revealing the artist’s keen observation of human variety.

About the Artist

Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)|Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli · 1503–1540

Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, known as Parmigianino, was born on January 11, 1503, in Parma, into a family of artists. The eighth child of painter Filippo Mazzola and Donatella Abbati, he lost his father to the plague at age two and was raised by his uncles, Michele and Pier Ilario Mazzola, modestly talented painters who taught him the techniques of the craft. By his late teens, Parmigianino d...