Studienblatt_ Wölfin mit Romulus und Remus sowie Madonna 

Curator: Parmigianino's "Studienblatt: Wölfin mit Romulus und Remus sowie Madonna," now in the Städel Museum, presents us with a fascinating visual puzzle. Editor: My first impression is of fragments, glimpses of stories, rendered in the most delicate ink. It feels ephemeral, like a thought caught in mid-air. Curator: Exactly. Parmigianino combines two powerful narratives: the Roman myth of the wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome, and depictions of the Madonna and Child. The juxtaposition highlights themes of foundation, nurture, and perhaps even civic duty against spiritual devotion. Editor: The materiality also intrigues me. It's a drawing, likely a preparatory study. Ink on paper allowed Parmigianino to rapidly explore compositional ideas. How were drawings like this circulated and consumed at the time? Curator: Drawings were a vital part of artistic practice. They served as a means to experiment with form and content. And beyond personal development, it can also be viewed as a type of “visual culture”. In the Renaissance, there was a robust circulation of drawings within artists’ workshops, fostering the transmission of knowledge and influencing artistic style. Editor: The wolf, of course, is a potent symbol itself. Not merely a wild animal, but the maternal figure embodying the very origins of Roman power and civilization. That image carries tremendous cultural weight. It goes beyond natural representation to become almost totemic. Curator: And placing that primal image alongside the Madonna, a paragon of Christian motherhood, opens up complex readings. One can’t help but to read this combination through a historical, political lens and how rulers at the time deployed visual devices in their attempts to wield power. Editor: Seeing the study through this lens has revealed something about both Parmigianino’s artistic process, and its cultural meaning in his historical moment. Thanks for clarifying the many possibilities of what seems like a series of fragmented sketches. Curator: It has truly been my pleasure. The convergence of narratives and cultural symbols offers deep insight into his genius, as well as his time.