Artwork
The Entombment
The Entombment is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Parmigianino. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Entombment, created in 1530 by Italian artist Parmigianino, is an etching and drypoint print on laid paper. It exemplifies key characteristics of the Mannerist style, showcasing the artist's distinctive approach to form and emotion.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a somber scene of mourning figures surrounding a draped, reclining body. The composition conveys a sense of restrained yet palpable grief, with figures engaging in various gestures of lamentation, including kneeling, leaning in with a child, and hovering above. Faces are rendered with soft, tense expressions, capturing a moment of collective sorrow.
Technique & Style
Parmigianino employed etching and drypoint techniques to achieve refined textures and deep shadows. Fine lines define the draped cloth, hair, and the rough, uneven background elements of trees and rocks, set against a swirling, ambiguous space. The Mannerist elongation of forms and sensuality are subtly integrated into the figures' poses and expressions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1530 by Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (Parmigianino), this work is part of the oeuvre of a leading first-generation Mannerist artist. Parmigianino was active in several Italian cities, producing notable works like *Vision of Saint Jerome* (1527) and *Madonna with the Long Neck* (1534). The specific provenance of *The Entombment* print is not detailed here.
Context
*The Entombment* reflects the artistic innovations of the Mannerist period, characterized by emotional intensity, unconventional composition, and technical experimentation. As a print, it also speaks to the era's expansion of artistic dissemination through etching and drypoint.
Legacy
As a work by Parmigianino, *The Entombment* contributes to the artist's legacy as a pioneer of Mannerism. It influences subsequent artistic movements through its stylistic innovations and emotional depth, though its direct impact on later artists is not specified in the provided details.
Artist & collection
Artist
Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 1503 – 24 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (UK: , US: , Italian: ; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist…
