MASTER FP (ACTIVE CIRCA 1528-1540) AFTER PARMIGIANINO (1503-1540)

Together with a number of allegorical and mythological etchings, the present series of Apostles belongs to the small oeuvre of an anonymous etcher, known as the Master FP. However, the prints are all after designs by Francesco Mazzola (1503-1540), known as Parmigianino, and it is likely that the monogram FP on the prints relates to him ('Francesco Parmigianino') rather than to the skilful, yet unknown etcher's name.
Of the ink and wash drawings by Parmigianino for the Apostles series, which must have served as models for the etchings, seven have survived; six are today at the Louvre, Paris, and one at the Uffizi, Florence. Two of these sheets, depicting Saint John and Saint Jude, have been pricked along the contours for transfer. The remaining six drawings, to complete the set of 12 apostles and Christ, are lost.
Parmigianino himself produced a small oeuvre of etchings, including one of Saint Philip and of Saint James the Greater, respectively.
It is possible that several painting commissions received during his stay in Bologna prevented the artist from completing a series of etchings of the Apostles himself. As a result, he may have decided to commission another printmaker - the so-called Master FP - to execute the etchings after his designs. Whoever this etcher was, he captured Parmigianino's spontaneous, fluent and energetic drawing style and transferred it faithfully into the print medium.