Artwork
Madonna with Child and a monk - Parmigianino
Madonna with Child and a monk - Parmigianino is a wood painting by the Mannerist artist Parmigianino. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created circa 1550, this oil painting on poplar wood presents the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ and a kneeling monk.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1550, this oil painting on poplar wood presents the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ and a kneeling monk. The work exemplifies the later phase of Parmigianino’s career and is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition brings together a traditional devotional scene, Mary cradling the Child, with a monastic figure, suggesting intercession or patronage. The monk’s posture, kneeling before the holy pair, emphasizes piety and reverence within a private, contemplative setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in the Mannerist idiom, the figures display elongated proportions and a graceful, almost ethereal poise. Parmigianio’s handling of light and shadow creates a subtle chiaroscuro that models the drapery and gives depth to the central group against a darker backdrop.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Parmigianino aligns with the artist’s documented output during the final years of his life, reflecting his mature Mannerist approach.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 1503 – 24 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (UK: US: Italian:; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist painter…
