Saints Apollonia and Lucy

This fresco of Saints Apollonia and Lucy formed part of Parmigianino's 1523 decorative cycle at San Giovanni Evangelista in Parma. The pairing of two early Christian female martyrs was common in Italian church decoration, serving both devotional and decorative purposes. These early frescoes at San Giovanni established the twenty-year-old Parmigianino as a painter of real distinction. Characteristic of Parmigianino's approach, the work displays extreme elegance, elongated forms, serpentine grace, refined palette.

The two saints are depicted with the graceful poses and flowing drapery that would become hallmarks of Parmigianino's style. The fresco technique is handled with confidence, employing broad areas of color within precisely drawn contours.