Virgin and Child with Saints

Engraving, 1540 circa, inscribed at lower right “FRA. PARM. F”.

Magnificient proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, trimmed clote to platemark, perfect condition.

The subject of the composition is related to the famous Parmigianino’ painting “Madonna di S. Zaccaria”, at the Uffizi Gallery.

Parmigianino painted it for the bolognese Bonifazio Gozzadini, in 1533 circa.
Bonasone engraved a copy, in the same direction, dated 1543, with some variations in the landscape.

The plate doesn’t bear the inventor’indication.

This print, that is a copy, in reverse, after Bonasone, bears the inscription “FRA. PARM. F.”, and the most obvious difference is in the foreground face to the left that it is no longer S. Zaccari but S. Joseph.

Because of the superior graphic quality of this anonymous copy, Catelli Isola and Massari, believe that it can be an unknown print by Parmigianino himself, and therefore the inscription should be understood not simply as an indication of the inventor of the composition but also of the engraver.