Ambrosiana

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, detail, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed

From October 12, 2023, the exhibition “The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed will be on display in the windows of rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca.

There is no need to remember how much the figure of Cardinal Federico Borromeo and his great Milanese institution had an impact on the construction of the Betrothed.
Precisely for this reason the Ambrosiana commemorates the 150th anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni’s death with this selected exhibition of rare volumes which, by explicit admission of the Author, provided historical material for the ‘truthful’ creation of the Novel.
For the most part, these are texts that are not easy to find – some are even the only surviving examples – which provided Manzoni with the information for the plot of his story.
Thus, also on this theme, the Ambrosiana Library manages to draw, from its inexhaustible book heritage, precious relics that can offer new sources of studies and interpretations on the figure of the most famous novelist of Italian literature.

<p><em>Portrait of Federico Borromeo</em>, from<br />
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti<br />
Z351 sup, f. 413v</p>

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER 2: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

Ambrosiana

NOVEMBER 2: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

From 18.00 to 19.30 (last admission) entrance to the Art Gallery and Crypt at the special price of €3.00

02/11/2025-02/11/2025
Natura morta<br>Jago and Caravaggio: two views on the transience of life

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

Adoration of the Magi, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Lesenes and trophies, Agostino Busti detto il Bambaia (1483-1548)
Portrait of Manfredo Settala, Daniele Crespi (1600-1630) attribuito a
Portrait of a Gentleman (Michel de l’Hospital), Giovan Battista Moroni (1520-1578)
The Holy Family, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 455 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Allegorical Female Figure, Giovanni Serodine (1600-1631)
Portrait of a Lady, Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis (1455-1508)
Diana the Huntress, Joachim Friess (XVI-XVII secolo)
Portrait of Bernardino da Lesmo, Bartolomeo Veneto (1502-1530)
Christ Resurrected, Marco Basaiti (1470-1530)
Portrait of Emilia Morosini Zeltner, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Holy Family with Sain John, Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, Bonifacio Veronese (1487-1553)
Mary Magdalene, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Pietà (copy from Michelangelo), Leone Leoni
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Giovanni Busi detto Cariani (1480-1547)
The Ambrosian Virgil of Francesco Petrarca, NA
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 663 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1058 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Allegory of Water, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Crib, Federico Barocci o Baroccio detto il Fiori (1535-1612) (replica di)
Horse’s head (Copy from the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome), NA
Man in Armour, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Saint Michael the Archangel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Seascape, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Portrait of Giovanni Battista Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Susanna at her Bath, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Portrait of a Young Girl with a Dove, Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858)
The Madonna of the Pavilion, Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi detto) (1444 o 1445-1510)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 29 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
The Adoration of the Magi, Andrea Schiavone (1510-1563)
The Damned Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
View of the Interior of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Portrait of Napoleon King of Italy, Andrea Appiani (1754-1817)
Portrait of a Pilgrim, Monogrammista HL (XVI secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 845 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Giuseppina Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Mouse with Roses, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Cup with Turbo marmoratus shell, Christoph Lencker (1556 circa-1613)
Latin astrolabe, Anonymous
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 4 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Arco della Pace in Milan, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
The infant Jesus with a Lamb, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Winter Landscape with Skaters, Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)
The School of Athens, Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)
Judith and Holofernes, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Portrait of Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine (later Leopold II), Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779)
Daggers with sheath (eared sfondagiaco dagger), Milanese Gunsmiths
Figured casket, Scultore lombardo
The Kiss, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 49 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Head of Christ the Redeemer, Gian Giacomo Caprotti detto Salai (1480-1524)
The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, Marco d’Oggiono (1470-1525)
The Madonna and Child with a Worshipper, Bernardino Betti detto il Pinturicchio (1454-1513)
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Cesare Ligari (1716-1770)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 117 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Dantesque window, Giuseppe Bertini (1825-1898)
Locked out of school, Emilio Longoni (1859-1932)
Portrait of Paolo Morigia, Fede Galizia (1578-1630)
Maternity, Mosè Bianchi (1840-1904)
Male portrait, Hans Muelich (1516-1573)
The Adoration of the Magi, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli also known as Morazzone (1571-1626)
Self Portrait, Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
Octagonal casket, Bottega degli Embriachi (XIV-XV secolo)
Washerwomen at the Canal, Emilio Gola (1851-1923)
Portrait of a Young Man, Vittore Ghislandi detto Frà Galgario (1655-1743)
Orrery, Sconosciuto
The Virgin of the Rocks, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Kids and Lambs, Francesco Londonio (1723-1783)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 5 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Ceremonial saddle and stirrups. Detail of the wooden horse of Troy, Arte armaiola milanese
The Annunciation, Gerolamo Mazzola Bedoli (1500-1569)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 116 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 71 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 858 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Placing of Christ in the Sepulchre, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Dormition of the Virgin, Anonimo ferrarese (XV secolo)
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, Ubertini Francesco detto Bachiacca (1494-1557)
Self Portrait, Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 33 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Original Sin, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Allegory of Fire, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1006 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 710 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Basket of fruit, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 21 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Ambito di Francesco Albani (1578-1660)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 26 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 72 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 139 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 860 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Pietro Antonio Magatti (1691-1767)
The Madonna Nursing the Child by the Fountain, Bernaert van Orley (1488-1541)
Plato, Giovanni Antonio Piatti (1447-1480)
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Jacopo da Ponte detto il Bassano (1510-1592)
Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Napoleon Bonaparte’s gloves, NA
Flowers in a Vase, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Sacra Conversazione, Ambrogio da Fossano detto il Bergognone (1453-1523)
Libro d’Ore Borromeo, Cristoforo de Predis (1440-1486)
Jael and Sisera, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 909 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 844 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Triumph of David, Lucas Hugenszoon detto Luca di Leida (1494-1533)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 3 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
De divina proportione, Luca Pacioli (1445 circa – 1517)
The Martyrdom of Saint Peter of Verona, Alessandro Bonvicino detto Moretto (1490-1554)
The Adoration of the Magi, Maestro del Santo Sangue (XVI secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 272 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Noctes Atticae, Aulo Gellio
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portico in Ruins, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Clock with astrolabe, Sconosciuto
Apse of San Satiro and View of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Laocoon (copy of the Vatican original), Leone Leoni
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 719 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Magdalen and the Angel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 145 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Still Life with Musical Instruments, Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
The Adoration with Saint Roch, Gian Pietro Rizzoli detto Giampietrino (1508-1549)
Portrait of Saint Charles Borromeo, Giovanni Ambrogio Figino (1548-1608)
Naturalis Historia, Plinio il Vecchio (23-79 dC)
The Last Supper, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Saint John the Baptist, Gian Giacomo Caprotti
A Soul in Purgatory, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 199 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Armillary sphere, NA
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 12 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1069 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of a Young Man, Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco copia da) (1478 circa-1510)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 104 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 812 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Adoration, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Mary Magdalene Penitent, Guido Reni (1575-1642)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 307 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Assumption of the Virgin, Giovanni Agostino da Lodi (1467-1524 circa)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Portrait of Alessandro Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)
Flowers and Roses, Gaetano Previati (1852-1920)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 149 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Nautilus shell, Sconosciuto
Burse, Artista dell’Italia centrale
Mercury and Argus, Anonimo genovese (XVII secolo)
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Antonio Badile (1518-1560)
The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome, Cesare Magni (1511-1534)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 873 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Display case with the hair of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfredo Ravasco
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 851 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Blessed Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
llias picta, NA