Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola; 1503-1540 Casalmaggiore) - The Morgan Library & Museum

	Collections \| Drawings & Prints
	« Zoom this image	468 of 811 « Previous \| Next »
	Zoom image

	Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola; 1503–1540) Prometheus Animating Man, ca. 1524–27 Pen and brown ink, brown wash, over black chalk 5 3/8 x 6 1/16 inches (135 x 154 mm) Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1909; IV, 45 See CORSAIR catalog record for this item » The subject of the present drawing was likely inspired by a passage in Boccaccio's Genealogia deorum gentilium (On the Genealogy of the Gods of the Gentiles), which draws a parallel between Prometheus and God. Set against a dramatic sky, Prometheus opens his arms in an all-embracing gesture to reach the sun's chariot and obtain the spark that will enliven the clay man who sits in front of him, modeled in his image. The gesture recalls that of the figure of God in Michelangelo's Creation of Man on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Popular during the Renaissance, the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus visualizes the intense belief in the near-godlike abilities of man. About this department List of works Text only list Search images Order images

Collections | Drawings & Prints