Tomb Surmounted by the Madonna and Child in an Oval Wreath

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, *Tomb Surmounted by the Madonna and Child in an Oval Wreath* is a delicate etching attributed to Angiolo Falconetto after designs by the Mannerist master Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola). Created in the 16th century—though the exact date remains unknown—this print captures a sacred scene: a tomb adorned with animals and crowned by the Madonna tenderly holding the Christ Child within an elegant oval wreath. The composition blends devotional piety with Renaissance symbolism, where tombs evoke mortality and...