Terms and conditions of use
The Death of Orpheus
(1523)-1527 {or (1524)-1527}
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1923
- Gallery location
- Not on display
About this work
A leading exponent of Italian Mannerism, Parmigianino was a precocious draughtsman, and one of the first Italian artists to experiment with printmaking. This small but vigorous wash drawing shows the effects sought in chiaroscuro woodcuts. The fluent sepia washes set the mid tones in the drawing, while darker pen lines define compositional outlines and highlights are provided by the bare paper. Similarly in chiaroscuros, several blocks of graduated shades of a single colour are overprinted to render tonal values and a darker key block provides linear definition while cut-away (unprinted) areas reveal the white paper, providing highlights.
Artwork Details
inscribed in pen and ink (H. S. Gilkes' hand) l.r.: 1278/3/84
inscribed in pencil on reverse l.l.: (...illeg.)
inscribed in pencil on reverse l.r.: Parmiggiano / £4.4.-
stamped in purple ink on reverse l.r.: NATIONAL GALLERY / OF VICTORIA (in oval) (Lugt 1932g)
inscribed in pen and ink on reverse l.r.: 1278/3/84
inscribed in pen and ink on reverse l.r.: Italian Drawings
Felton Bequest, 1923
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest