Giulio Pippi, called Giulio Romano, Woman with a Mirror, oil on canvas, transferred from wood, 43 3/4 x 36 1/4 in. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

Selected Works

Profane Love

The section Profane Love will focus on erotic, at times salacious, imagery in drawings, prints, and other objects created by some of the most celebrated artists of the time, including Parmigianino and Giulio Romano. Many of these works exhibit a witty, burlesque sensibility that satirizes more intellectually elevated modes of art and literature. Classical mythology, especially the loves of the gods recounted by Ovid and other ancient poets, provided a convenient pretext for the portrayal of erotic imagery. The world of the courtesan and the luxury items associated with it will also be explored in the exhibition. Famed for their beauty, cultural accomplishments, and wit, courtesans were especially prevalent in Rome and Venice.