Ambrosiana

Eliseo Sala (1813-1879)
Portrait of Cesare Beccaria, detail
oil painting on canvas

THE TREATISE ON CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS BY CESARE BECCARIA
FROM MILAN, TO EUROPE, TO THE WORLD

Exactly two hundred and sixty years ago, in 1764, the well-known Milanese jurist Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794) finished writing his masterpiece, the treatise On Crimes and Punishments, and published it in the same year. In the exhibition The treatise On Crimes and Punishments by Cesare Beccaria, from Milan to Europe to the World the original manuscript of the work, the Italian editio princeps, will be exhibited, and all the other first editions that followed in the various European languages, including two recent non-European publications, testifying to a diffusion that spread from Milan throughout Europe and the entire world.

THE BECCARIA LIBRARY AND THE AMBROSIANA

Upon Beccaria’s death, his library, including his manuscripts, printed works and various personal memorabilia, passed to his son Giulio Beccaria, who in turn bequeathed it to his wife Antonietta Curioni de’Civati. Donna Antonietta, significantly, in her will of 29 March 1866, hoped that her daughters would undertake to place this precious cultural heritage «in some public institute in perpetual memory of the illustrious philosopher, such as for example in the Ambrosiana Library, already rich in monuments and other national illustrations”. This wish did not come true immediately, because Cesare Beccaria’s library passed to one of his son-in-laws, the Milanese commendatore Angelo Villa Pernice, a well-known bibliophile, as well as an economist, public administrator and politician.

When, in 1910, after the death of her husband, his wife Donna Rachele Villa Pernice donated the entire family book heritage to the Ambrosiana Library, the collection of manuscripts and printed matter belonging to Cesare Beccaria also arrived there: thus, what with foresight the Marchesa Antonietta Curioni de’ Civati had hoped for was fulfilled. This generous donation, of high cultural patronage, was facilitated by the Nogara brothers (in particular Giuseppe, Bernardino and Bartolomeo), relatives of Rachele Villa Pernice, who acted as mediators with Monsignor Achille Ratti, then Prefect of the Ambrosiana Library.

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)

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