Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Parmigiano: Self Portrait in a Mirror


Parmigiano: Self portrait in a Mirror
1524
diameter 25 cm

  • The artist worked in Parma anf the Papal court in Rome
  • He was identified as the next Raphael
  • recognised as a "smooth guy" who epitomizes the courtly ideal of an artist
  • This self portrait served as a demonstration of his artistic skills before he left for Rome
  • He makes claims for himself as an artist by depicting himself and immortalizing himself
  • shows ability to depict distortion in a convex mirror
  • The enlarged hand places information on "the artist's hand"
  • He dresses himself in lavish costume and the window and halo of light around his head heralds his divine status
  • meditation of light and the body
  • It is painted on a small wooden disc and mimics a real mirror
  • Depicts self as an adolescent even though he is 20 at the time
  • The reference to the mirror is symbolic of slef-knowledge
  • The objects and knowledge construct his identity
  • Mirrors were also used as an allegory for Narcissism or aping

1 comment:

  1. - recognized for his smoothness in painting and demeanour
    - repetition of how painting is an idealic, inaccurate representation of the sitter, meant to embody beauty as the primary goal -- in both painting and persona

    George

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