Renaissance drawings by the two Parma masters Correggio and Parmigianino are being shown at the British Museum until January 7th 2001. This exhibition, organised with the assistance of the New York Metropolitan Museum, regroups 100 drawings by Parmigianino (1503-1540) and thirty by Correggio (1489-1534) whose works are full of sensuality.
Parmigianino was much influenced by Correggio whom he tried to rival. He went to Rome in 1524 feeling that Parma was too small to shelter two geniuses and settled in Bologna after the Italian capital was ransacked in 1527.
Three years later he was back in Parma that Correggio had just left.
Parmigianino was much productive and multiplied sketches possibly because he was not sure of his trait. Still he managed to capture the essence of life in most of his superb drawings.