A double-sided drawing by the Italian Old Master Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (1505-40), known as Parmigianino, was acquired from Trinity Fine Art in 1994. The small, 8¼ x 6½in (21 x 16cm) sheet, right, is covered on both sides with figure studies and vignettes in pen, ink and wash created at various times.
One side features two putti among foliage while the other has studies for an Adoration of the Shepherds, and, interestingly, a small fragment of a musical score. This chimes with the drawing’s early 17th century English provenance. It was owned by the musican and art dealer Nicholas Lanier (1588-1666). The drawing has an estimate of $300,000-500,000 in the Sotheby’s Barnet sale.