Ambrosiana

The History of Italy – Ancient Rome illustrated by Lodovico Pogliaghi

Until October 28 it is possible to admire, inside rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca, an exhibition dedicated to the fascinating tables created by Lodovico Pogliaghi for the first volume of the work La Storia d’Italia, focused on ancient Rome.

An ambitious editorial project that took shape in the second half of the nineteenth century and that aims to tell the national history through an engaging and accessible visual language.
The illustrations on display, presented for the first time at the National Exhibition of Turin in 1884, testify to Pogliaghi’s exceptional narrative and documentary ability. With great historical rigor and artistic sensitivity, the author reconstructs the events of ancient Rome – from its Italic origins to the fall of the Western Empire – alternating the representation of great historical events with more intimate and reflective moments, which investigate the psychology of the protagonists.
The exhibition offers the public an iconographic journey that combines the epic dimension of history with the more human and everyday one, thanks to the meticulous attention to detail, costumes, architecture and atmospheres of the time, the result of careful antiquarian studies conducted by the artist in Rome, Pompeii and in various museums.
The plates, originally conceived to be translated into engraving and printed with cutting-edge photomechanical techniques, are inspired by the European artistic trends of the time, in particular the historical painting of Jean-Léon Gérôme and Lawrence Alma-Tadema, thus helping to make the ancient world alive, current and accessible to the general public.
An exhibition that celebrates not only Pogliaghi’s artistic excellence, but also the cultural value of historical memory, inviting visitors to reflect on the profound link between past and present.

WHAT’S ON

READING ROOM CLOSURE FROM SEPTEMBER 24 TO 29

Ambrosiana

READING ROOM CLOSURE FROM SEPTEMBER 24 TO 29

Reading room closed from September 24 to 29 included

24/09/2025-29/09/2025
ARE YOU IN LOVE? NO I'M IN MILANO

Ambrosiana

ARE YOU IN LOVE? NO I'M IN MILANO

19/09/2025-14/10/2025
Exhibition
SEPTEMBER 28: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

Ambrosiana

SEPTEMBER 28: 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

28/09/2025-28/09/2025
Natura morta<br>Jago and Caravaggio: two views on the transience of life

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

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