Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Panel Decorated with a Putto, a Sphinx, Scrollwork, and an Oval Cartouche Containing a Seated Figure

Circle of Parmigianino
1503-1540

Panel Decorated with a Putto, a Sphinx, Scrollwork, and an Oval Cartouche Containing a Seated Figure

ca. 1538-1544
5 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches (140 x 114 mm)
Pen and brown ink and wash, over black chalk, on paper; squared in red chalk.
I, 49a

Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.

Notes
Watermark: none.
Formerly attributed to Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, called Il Parmigianino, 1503-1540; Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli (ca. 1505-ca. 1569/70).
Description

The present drawing was acquired as a work by Parmigianino. It was known to A. E. Popham, but not included in his volumes on Parmigianino’s drawings. He noted in a letter, dated 14 February 1949, that “almost all the drawings [in the Morgan’s collection] fit into their place and help to elucidate Parmigianino’s development, except [the present sheet], which alone does not seem to be by him.” He went on to suggest that it may relate to the decoration of the aisles of the Parma Cathedral by Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli and others.

Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed by the artist, in design, at upper center, in pen and brown ink [symbol, like a "G", perhaps for "palmi"?]; and at lower center, in pen and brown ink, "[symbol] 42"; by Richardson Sr. or an amanuensis?, on mount, at center, beneath drawing, in pen and brown ink, "Parmeggiano"; on mount, lower right, "49251"; on verso of mount, with Richardson's pressmarks, "B. 20. / CC. 18(?) B. 23. k. / In the Steccata, or exactly like it. / R. jun."; at right center, following Barnard's initials, "N: 612 / 5 1/2 by 4 1/2"; at lower right, "Cholmondely"; at lower left, in graphite, "the 2 Richardsons / John Barnard / + Cholmondley"; in right corner, in graphite, "279".
Associated names
Parmigianino, 1503-1540, Formerly attributed to.
Mazzola Bedoli, Girolamo, approximately 1500-1569, Possible attribution.
Richardson, Jonathan, 1665-1745, former owner.
Richardson, Jonathan, 1694-1771, former owner.
Barnard, John, 1709-1784, former owner.
Cholmondeley, George Cholmondeley, 1703-1770, Earl of, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Department