Parmigianino (1503-1540) (attr.). (Angel applying crosses to foreheads of kneeling people)

Drawing in pen and brown ink, 13.3 x 21.3 cm, inscribed "Parmesan" in upper right corner and with the words "Aperto qui" on the leg of the left front figure, sketched putti in black chalk on verso, under double passepartout.

Verso with traces of former mounting; old number 58 in pen in lower right corner (perhaps from a sketchbook). Intriguing drawing on laid paper with unidentified partial watermark, with an interesting provenance: with the collector's stamp of Armand Sigwalt (1875-1952) in lower right corner (Lugt 175, listing 5 different auction catalogues for this collection). Confer Sylvie Béguin, Parmigianino: The Drawings (2000), listing at least 1 drawing from Sigwalt's collection. We found other drawings by Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, named "il Parmesan") with very similar inscription of the artist's name, for example in the Morgan Library and Museum.