Diogenes seated with his barrel behind him, and reading a book while holding a stick that rests on a geometry book to his right

Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio|Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)

ca. 1526–27 · Engraving · Drawings and Prints

Diogenes seated with his barrel behind him, and reading a book while holding a stick that rests on a geometry book to his right — Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio|Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)

This engraving of the Greek philosopher Diogenes follows a design by Parmigianino. In contrast to The Marriage of the Virgin it is striking how little of the copper plate Caraglio left unworked, using controlled tonal differences to achieve a highly nuanced chiaroscuro palette. This change may have been due to greater involvement by Parmigianino himself, who likely created his preparatory drawing with a print in mind. The painter actively thought about the translation of tonality in this design as is suggested by his decision to also have the drawing reproduced in a chiaroscuro woodcut by Ugo da Carpi (Italian, ca. 1480–1532) in Bologna, not long after Caraglio made this engraving.

Artist: Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio|Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)
Date: ca. 1526–27
Medium: Engraving
Department: Drawings and Prints
Credit line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917

Diogenes seated with his barrel behind him, and reading a book while holding a stick that rests on a geometry book to his right

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