Saints Stephen and Lawrence

This painting of Saints Stephen and Lawrence by Parmigianino, dated 1523, was executed for the church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Parma, where Correggio was simultaneously working on his celebrated dome fresco. The two deacon-martyrs are paired as exemplars of Christian sacrifice. Painted when Parmigianino was barely twenty, the work demonstrates his precocious talent and his ability to hold his own alongside Correggio in one of Parma's most important churches. The elongated figures already signal the Mannerist direction of his art.

The two saints are composed in a balanced yet dynamic arrangement, with Parmigianino's characteristic elongation lending them an otherworldly elegance. The handling of the liturgical vestments demonstrates his skill with rich fabrics, while the cool, clear palette distinguishes his work from Correggio's warmer tonality in the same church.