Portrait of a Young Woman

Portrait of a Young Woman from 1530 by Parmigianino exemplifies the ideal of feminine beauty in Italian Mannerism. The elongated proportions, porcelain-like complexion, and aristocratic bearing of the sitter represent the Mannerist aesthetic that Parmigianino helped define. The Young Woman's elongated neck—a hallmark of Parmigianino's feminine ideal—would directly inspire the exaggerated elegance of the Madonna with the Long Neck (c. 1535-1540), his most celebrated painting.

The portrait displays Parmigianino's characteristic refinement, with the young woman rendered in an elongated, idealized manner that epitomizes Mannerist elegance.