The Tomb of a Bishop

During the Counter-Reformation, the sense of touch influenced religious experience as much as if not more than sight. In this etching of a bishop’s elaborate sculptural resting place, the sorrowing putti embrace the effigy of the deceased and weave their hands and arms in and out of holes in the base of the sarcophagus. Parmigianino’s elongated bodies accentuate the tactility of the composition and contribute to the composition’s emotional resonance. While the bishop’s identity remains unknown (and he may have been imaginary), the monumentality of his sepulchre and the relief panel below showing his investiture hint at his historical importance.