Seated Goddess Diana (recto); Studies of a Nude Male Torso Seen from the Rear, and a leg (verso) 1517 - 1527

Parmigianino rendered this Seated Goddess Diana in sanguine, a drawing medium that lends a warm, life-like quality to the figure. Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, moon, and nature, sits in quiet repose, her figure commanding the composition. The motif of the seated goddess finds its roots in ancient statuary, echoing the seated figures of antiquity found in the Near East. Consider the seated statues of goddesses from Mesopotamia; the posture of these deities reflects a serene authority, a visual language that spans millennia. Yet, Parmigianino infuses his Diana with a subtle tension. The goddess is at rest, but her expression is enigmatic, perhaps reflective of the psychological depths associated with the moon. This is no mere illustration, but a channeling of the symbol's emotional and psychological resonance. The seated goddess has been a recurrent image throughout history. It is a testament to the enduring power of symbols to tap into our collective memory, resurfacing and evolving across time.