Tomb of a Bishop

Art Historical Context

This etching, titled *Tomb of a Bishop*, represents a fascinating collaboration between Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola), one of the most inventive artists of the Mannerist period, and the skilled printmaker Battista Angolo del Moro. Parmigianino’s elegant, elongated figures and graceful compositions were highly sought after for reproduction, and del Moro’s etching technique helped bring these designs to a broader audience beyond the original drawings or paintings. The work depicts a solemn funerary scene centered on a bishop’s tomb, surrounded by angels and the tender figures of the Madonna and Child. Such imagery reflects the deep religious devotion of sixteenth-century Italy while showcasing Mannerism’s distinctive refinement and emotional expressiveness. As a print, this piece highlights how etching allowed intricate details and spiritual narratives to circulate widely among collectors and scholars. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work entered the collection through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1927, underscoring the enduring value of reproductive prints in preserving and sharing Renaissance artistic achievements.