Portraits of marriage and family are common in the Modern Age, allowing us to detect forms of relationship between husband and wife and family compositions. This portrait by Parmigianino depicts Camilla Gonzaga, married to the Count of San Secondo, emphasising her role as a mother. The iconography of the work depicts, apparently for the first time in Italy, a woman surrounded by her children in the manner of classical charity. Revealing is the hardness of the mother’s face, with a certain restrained smile, while the children approach the cord around her waist with their hands, considering it an element of security. She gives the impression that with one of them she wants to break the bonds of dependence, with another she seems to warn him of a possible withdrawal and only allows the youngest to cling to her. Her attitude, together with the direction of the children’s gaze, leaves a clear message: age forces a change in mother-child relationships and male life and promotion are associated with going out of the domestic space.
Collection: Images
Project: 10. Churches and religions in Europe., 11. Science and culture as representation in Europe.
Chronology: XVI
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Image
Format: Oil on panel (128 x 97 cm)
Source: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Language: Spanish
Date: 1535-1537
Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)
Identifier: P000280
Copyright: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Abstract: Camila Gonzaga, married to the Count of San Secondo, is portrayed with three of her six children by Parmigianino
Image
Tags
CriadorasCuidadorasDependenciaEspacios domésticosFamiliaHijosHistoria de las MujeresMadresParmigianinoPinturasRelaciones familiaresRetratosTutela
