Explore the History of this artwork, Turkish Slave.
The work was in the Uffizi Gallery until 1928, when it was exchanged for two 13th century panels and a portrait thought to be of Philip, Duke of Parma by Giuseppe Baldrighi  and later recognized as a self-portrait.  It had arrived in Florence through   Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici, who owned it as early as 1675 and left it to the Medici Cabinet after his death.  It is mentioned in the Uffizi inventories of  1704 and 1890, being listed in the latter as "Portrait of a Young Woman with a turban on her head, with the left she holds a plume, by  Parmigianino's hand".The work was restored in 1968, at which time the dark background was removed and a uniform, earth-like color was discovered. The intervention, however, has been criticized, since several art historians consider the black background as a later intervention by Parmigianino himself.
Giuseppe Baldrighi Parmigianino Leopoldo de' Medici Uffizi Philip, Duke of Parma Uffizi Gallery Medici turban Parma