Parmigianino at St John Evangelist

The master's first steps

The intrados inner and outer band of St. Gertrude's Chapel (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

Along with Correggio, another prominent figure in the church was that of Francesco Mazzola, Parmigianino (1503-1540), to whom Vasari (1568) referred seven chapels.

The intrados inner and outer band of the St. Gertrude's Chapel in detail (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

Thanks to the restorations (Castrichini 2004, 2008) with the recovery of unpublished pieces it was possible to add to its catalog some frescoes of the third and fifth chapel on the left: Miracle of the healing of the cripple,

which accompany those in the arch of the first (1522), with the Martyrdom of Santa Susanna on the left,

St. Apollonia and St. Lucy. A scene of the intrados inner band of St. Gertrude's Chapel (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

the Eternal in glory in the center, and the Saints Lucia and Apollonia, on the right.

A detail of St Lucy's eyes.

The intrados inner and outer band of St. Gertrude's Chapel (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

In the lower surface, festoon of flowers and fruit with bucrani and putti.

The intrados inner and outer band of St. Gertrude's Chapel (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

A detail of the bucrani and fruits and flowers decoration.

St. Stephen and St. Lawrence. A scene of the intrados inner band of the Monastery Chapel by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

In the second chapel on the left (1522-1523), Saint Lawrence and Saint Stephen (left wall),

St. Vitalis. A scene of the intrados inner band of the Monastery Chapel by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

San Vitale with a rearing horse (right wall),

A detail of the central scene of the intrados inner band of the Monastery Chapel by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

putti,

A dog. A detail of the intrados inner band of the Monastery Chapel by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

animals and various objects (central area) and the monochrome decoration with trophies and grotesques of the outer belt.

The intrados inner and outer band of the Zangrandi Chapel (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

In the contemporary fourth on the left, formerly Zangrandi, now Borri, with St. Nicholas of Bari and St. Hilary of Poitiers.

St. Hilarius. A detail of the intrados inner band of the Zangrandi Chapel (1522) by ParmigianinoComplesso di San Giovanni Evangelista

This is where Parmigianino’s artistic training takes place, which, at the beginning of his career, was inspired by Correggio’s ductus, also active in the church of Saint John.

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