Study of drapery
by PARMIGIANINO, Brush, grey ink, heightened with white, over red chalk, 230 x 100 mm
This is a study of drapery for one of the canephori; whole-length standing, looking at an object which she holds in her left hand. The drapery corresponds with that of the Canephoros in the centre of the south wall of the vault of the Steccata in Parma. The sheet has been squared for transfer in red chalk. The head and arms, which are entirely different from those of the painted figure, are additions by a later hand.