Watermark: none.
Formerly attributed to Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, called Il Parmigianino, Parma 1503-1540 Casalmaggiore.
Vasari relates that Cardinal Alessandro Farnese commissioned from Perino designs for a series of six circular plaques, which were to be engraved in rock crystal by the lapidary and medallist Giovanni Bernardi. Five circular drawings presumed to be from this series can be traced, two are in the collection of the Morgan Library.
Inscribed on verso of mount, upper right and lower left, in graphite, "5".
Parmigianino, 1503-1540, Formerly attributed to.
Lely, Peter, Sir, 1618-1680, former owner.
Marchetti, Giovanni Matteo, Bishop, -1704, former owner.
Talman, John, 1677-1726, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Rhoda Eitel-Porter and and John Marciari, Italian Renaissance Drawings at the Morgan Library & Museum, New York, 2019, no. 44.
Selected references: Fairfax Murray 1905-12, 4:47; Gere 1960, no. 12; New York 1965-66, no. 85; Florence 1966, 44; Rome 1981-82, 2: under no. 77; Parma Armani 1986, no. C.VII.1; New York 1987, no. 76; Mantua 2001, no. 140.
Stampfle, Felice, and Jacob Bean. Drawings from New York collections. I: The Italian Renaissance. New York : Metropolitan Museum of Art : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1965, no. 85, repr.