After Parmigianino (1503–1540): 18th-century Engravings

Francesco Mazzola (1503–1540), more commonly known as Parmigianino ('the little one from Parma'), was an Italian Mannerist painter and printmaker active in Florence, Rome, Bologna, and his native city of Parma. He was one of the first Italian painters to experiment with printmaking himself. His work is considered to be characterised by a 'refined sensuality' and he favoured elongated forms and three-quarter or full-length figure portraits.

Parmigianino's graphic work was highly sought after and praised in England in the late 18th century. Sir Joshua Reynolds and Benjamin West were avid collectors of Parmigianino's drawings and original prints.