Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino, was an Italian Mannerist painter and printmaker active in Florence, Rome, Bologna, and his native city of Parma.
17 Facts About Parmigianino
2.
Parmigianino's work is characterized by a "refined sensuality" and often elongation of forms and includes Vision of Saint Jerome and the iconic if somewhat anomalous Madonna with the Long Neck, and he remains the best known artist of the first generation whose whole careers fall into the Mannerist period.
3.
Parmigianino produced outstanding drawings, and was one of the first Italian painters to experiment with printmaking himself.
4.
Parmigianino painted a number of important portraits, leading a trend in Italy towards the three-quarters or full-length figure, previously mostly reserved for royalty.
5.
Parmigianino was the eighth child of Filippo Mazzola and one Donatella Abbati.
6.
Parmigianino's father died of the plague two years after Parmigianino's birth, and the children were raised by their uncles, Michele and Pier Ilario, who according to Vasari were modestly talented artists.
7.
In 1521, Parmigianino was sent to Viadana to escape the wars between the French, Imperial, and papal armies.
8.
Parmigianino worked in San Giovanni and met Correggio, who was at work on the fresco decorations of the cupola.
9.
Vasari records that in Rome, Parmigianino was "celebrated as a Raphael reborn".
10.
In 1531, Parmigianino received a commission for two altarpieces, depicting Saint Joseph and Saint John the Baptist, from the unfinished church of Santa Maria della Steccata.
11.
Parmigianino authorized him to collect the 50 gold scudi from Bonifazio Gozzadini for the Madonna with St John the Baptist and St Zacharias.
12.
Parmigianino had probably expected to succeed Correggio in the favour of the church.
13.
Parmigianino was imprisoned for two months for breach of contract after the Confraternita decided unanimously to ban him from continuing in their church.
14.
Parmigianino was replaced between 1539 and 1540 by Giulio Romano, who promptly withdrew from the contract.
15.
Parmigianino is buried in the church of the Servite Friars "naked with a cross made of cypress wood on his chest".
16.
Parmigianino was an early Italian etcher, a technique that was pioneered in Italy by Marcantonio Raimondi, but which appealed to draughtsmen.
17.
Parmigianino designed chiaroscuro woodcuts, and although his output was small he had a considerable influence on Italian printmaking.