Portrait of Gian Galeazzo Sanvitale

This portrait of Gian Galeazzo Sanvitale, painted in 1524, depicts a member of the powerful Sanvitale family who were among Parmigianino's most important early patrons. The count holds an enigmatic medal or coin, possibly an emblem with personal or philosophical significance. The Sanvitale lords of Fontanellato had commissioned Parmigianino to paint the remarkable mythological frescoes in their castle. His movement from Parma to Rome and then to Bologna, driven by the catastrophic Sack of Rome in 1527, shaped the increasingly refined and self-referential elegance of his mature work, which became the touchstone for Mannerist refinement throughout Italy.

The composition is enlivened by the prominent display of the mysterious medallion, which the sitter presents directly to the viewer. Parmigianino's exquisite handling of the costume's rich textures and the subtle modeling of the face demonstrate his mastery of oil portraiture at age twenty-one.