Zwei Puttenkörper (fragmentarisch) c. 1522 - 1524

Parmigianino made this fragmentary drawing of two putto bodies in pen and ink sometime in the 1500s. Born in Parma, Italy, the artist gained fame for his elegant Mannerist style during the High Renaissance. His refined and idealized forms, seen here in the partial sketches of cherubic figures, exemplify the aesthetic values of the Italian Renaissance courts. Works like this one reflect the cultural and intellectual climate of the period, in which humanist ideals emphasized classical learning, artistic patronage, and the pursuit of beauty as a social value. Parmigianino's delicate drawing provides insight into the artist's creative process, revealing the importance of preparatory sketches in Renaissance workshop practice. The survival of such drawings reminds us of the modern museum's role in preserving art for future generations. By studying archival documents and examining the artist's body of work, art historians can better understand the social and institutional forces that shaped the artist's vision.