Why it matters
Parmigianino painted his reflection in a convex mirror on a specially prepared curved panel, his hand greatly elongated in the foreground. According to Vasari he made it to show potential clients his talent.
Did you know?
- It dates from about 1524.
- He took it to Rome in 1525 and gave it to Pope Clement VII.
- It arrived in Prague in 1608 for Emperor Rudolf II.
Based on the Wikipedia article Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror (Parmigianino) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
