Parmigianino's Iconic Painting Newly Interpreted and Set for NYC, San Fran in 2014

Born in Parma and known as Parmigianino after his native city, Francesco Mazzola (1503-1540) lived only thirty-seven years, yet his eloquent, innovative art inspired his contemporaries to name him a "Raphael reborn" and praise him as one of the greatest painters of his age.

During his brief lifetime, Parmigianino was especially esteemed for his portraits. Today his Schiava Turca, an exquisite depiction of a young woman, is an icon in the city of Parma and admired as an expression of ideal female beauty that exemplifies a tradition established by Leonardo's Mona Lisa.

Rarely seen outside its home institution, the Galleria Nazionale di Parma, this masterpiece crosses the Atlantic for the first time for its presentation in 2014 at New York's Frick Collection and the Legion of Honor, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

The showing at the Frick marks the museum's third collaboration with the Foundation for Italian Art & Culture, a series of loans focused on the female portrait in the Renaissance. The collaboration previously featured Raphael's La Fornarina (Rome, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica) and Parmigianino's Antea (Naples, Museo di Capodimonte).

The Poetry of Parmigianino's "Schiava Turca" will be accompanied by a catalogue and numerous public programs, and is organized by The Frick Collection with the Foundation for Italian Art & Culture. The guest curator is Aimee Ng,Research Associate at The Frick Collection and Lecturer in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University.

The New York presentation is made possible by Gabelli Funds, Aso O. Tavitian, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert L. Goldschmidt, and the Foundation for Italian Art & Culture.