Parmigianino. 'The Madonna and Child with Saints', 1526‒7 © The National Gallery, London

LONDON - Witness one of the most visionary artists of the Renaissance at work and rediscover his masterpiece that pushed art in a new direction.

This exhibition explores the creation of Parmigianino’s 'The Madonna and Child with Saints', also known as ‘The Vision of Saint Jerome’. It returns to public display for the first time in 10 years following conservation.

Born in the Northern Italian city of Parma, after which he was nicknamed, Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (1503‒1540) was a child prodigy. He drew constantly.

At age 21 he moved to Rome, where he impressed the Pope and was praised as a ‘Raphael reborn’. This altarpiece was his first major work there. In 1527, the Sack of Rome erupted around him while he finished the painting. According to legend, looting Imperial soldiers invading his studio were so amazed by it that they let him continue.

Parmigianino made many drawings to work out his final composition. They range from velvety chalk studies to swirling pen and ink sketches. We reunite a variety of them with the painting for the first time.