Saint Cecilia and David

These figures of Saints Cecilia and David were painted in 1523 for the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata in Parma, a church that would later become the site of Parmigianino's most ambitious and troubled commission—the decoration of the vault, which he left unfinished at his death in 1540. This early work shows the harmonious pairing of the patroness of music with the Psalmist king. Characteristic of Parmigianino's approach, the work displays extreme elegance, elongated forms, serpentine grace, refined palette.

The pairing of two musical saints allowed Parmigianino to explore complementary poses and gestures in a decorative context. Elegant, flowing drapery and idealized proportions demonstrate his emerging Mannerist aesthetic within a devotional framework.