GreyhoundПармиђанино · 1500

The Depiction of Greyhound by Parmigianino

The drawing of Greyhound by Parmigianino captures a singular moment of stillness. The subject sits upon the ground, its head lifted toward a distant, unseen point. A quiet tension resides in the animal's posture. It is a study of form and focused intent. The lines trace the lean, muscular silhouette of the dog, capturing a sense of poised readiness. This work reflects the hand of Parmigianino, an artist who lived from 1503 to 1540.

In this rendering, the Greyhound is defined by its elegant, elongated profile. The artist uses a monochromatic palette to emphasize the play of light across the dog's coat and the subtle contours of its frame. The background is simple, featuring a wall with traces of writing that anchors the creature in a specific, albeit minimal, space. Every stroke contributes to the weight and presence of the animal. The dog remains fixed in its gaze, a silent observer of the void.

The sketch reveals a meticulous attention to the anatomy of the breed. There is a precision in the way the limbs are positioned and the way the neck extends upward. It is a quiet observation of life. The charcoal or ink leaves a mark of the artist's direct contact with the paper. A stillness settles over the page.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

A single dog sits upon the ground, its body angled toward the left. The creature holds its head high, turned toward the center of the frame. It gazes at something unseen in the distance. This silent watchfulness defines the animal's posture. The scene is rendered in black and white, stripping the subject of color to focus on form and shadow.

Behind the animal, a wall rises. Faint writing marks the surface of this background, adding a layer of texture to the composition. The light catches the contours of the dog, emphasizing the stillness of the moment. Every line remains precise and quiet. The gaze of the hound remains fixed on the horizon.

Related Works by the Same Artist

The artist’s hand moved with early certainty, completing the Bardi Altarpiece by the age of eighteen. This precocious skill flowed into the religious devotion of the 1520s. In 1527, he rendered the Vision of Saint Jerome, a work that captured the tension of his time. Later, the 1534 Madonna with the Long Neck would redefine the grace of the human form through deliberate, elegant distortion.

His brush traced the contours of many lives and sacred moments. He captured the quietude of the Portrait of a Lady in 1530-31 and explored the weight of the Circumcision of Jesus. His studies often sought a specific light, seen in the Self-portrait in a Convex Mirror. Other subjects emerged from his vision, including the Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine, as well as depictions of Saint Joseph and Saint John the Baptist.

• Madonna with the Long Neck (1534)
• Vision of Saint Jerome (1527)
• Portrait of a Lady (1530-31)
• Bardi Altarpiece

A silvered light remains in the memory of his lines. The ink settles into the paper.

Where to See This Artwork Today

The Greyhound resides within the Pinacoteca Stuard in Parma, Italy. It is housed in a wing of the ancient Benedictine monastery of San Paolo. The stone and silence of this monastic setting hold the work within the Giuseppe Stuard Collection. This collection was established in 2002.

Visitors find the piece in this specific corner of Parma. The museum occupies the space of the former monastery. Light falls upon the work within these historic walls. It remains a quiet presence in the collection.