Ambrosiana

Crocifissione (dettaglio) dal Ms E 18 inf., Messale Ambrosiano miniato da Salomone de’Grassi e collaboratori
Fine sec. XIV

MANUSCRIPTS ILLUMINATED IN ITALY FROM THE AMBROSIANA COLLECTIONS
The 14th century

The exhibition, set up in the displaycases of rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca from September 8 to November 15, 2022, presents a selection of manuscripts decorated in the fourteenth century in Italy from the collections of the Ambrosiana Library, some of which attributed to renowned illuminators, such as the Bolognese Niccolò di Giacomo and the Lombard Anovelo da Imbonate.

The exhibition was born following the publication of the volume by Milvia Bollati and Marco Petoletti, Manoscritti miniati in Italia della Biblioteca Ambrosiana (fondo inferior) (Italian illuminated manuscripts of the Ambrosiana Library).

Among the manuscripts bearing works of Latin classics are the Tragedies of Seneca (C 96 inf.) illuminated by Niccolò di Giacomo da Bologna around 1385 with scenes showing the contents of the Tragedies, and the extraordinary Solinus (C 246 inf.), a unique volume in the panorama of the transmission of this compendium of mirabilia for the exceptional complexity and quality of its iconographic apparatus, with the representation of the monsters described by Solinus.
The ms. E 24 inf. contains the Encyclopaedia by Pliny the Elder and is signed by another illuminator, Pietro da Pavia, an Augustinian friar. The artist portrays himself at work in the capital letter of book XXXV, dedicated to ancient art, and dates his enterprise to 1389.

The series of fourteenth-century liturgical manuscripts is also prestigious: among the volumes on show there are, for example, the Missal of Roberto Visconti, archpriest of the Milan Cathedral. In his will of 1327 (C 170 inf.) he recalled among his assets this volume, which at the time was still being copied by Giovanni da Legnano. Another precious Ambrosian Missal (E 18 inf.), was instead illuminated by Salomone de ‘Grassi and collaborators at the end of the fourteenth century. Finally, there is also a Roman missal (G 300 inf.), probably made for an Augustinian community and decorated by Anovelo da Imbonate. Of the same author, only two other illuminated volumes for the cathedral of S. Tecla are known at the present stage of research. A special mention deserves the liber capituli of the Lombard Cistercian monastery of Morimondo, Martyrology and Rule of s. Benedict (H 186 inf.). It dates back to the mid-fourteenth century and is important also for the obituary additions to the martyrology, reporting the death of the main abbots.

Finally, there are masucripts which, although lacking an iconic decoration, feature a system of gold and ink filigrees of exceptional visual impact and great refinement: the important collection of music treatises, from Guido Aretino to Marchetto Padovano (D 5 inf .), perhaps destined for the Angevin court of Naples, and Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae (D 40 inf.), copied and illuminated in northern Italy in 1400 and later owned by Tommaso Tebaldi of Bologna, an important of fifteenth century Milan.

The exhibition is designed to let visitors appreciate the beauty of these treasures and discover that “mine of stories” that is hidden in every medieval manuscript.
The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Renata Cipriani, a distinguished scholar of art history, who has devoted careful attention to the almost complete examination of the Latin codices of the Ambrosiana with a keen eye on decoration.

WHAT’S ON

PINACOTECA AND CRYPT: AUGUST OPENING HOURS

Pinacoteca

Reading room: summer closure

Biblioteca

Reading room: summer closure

Reading room closed from July 21 to August 31 included

08/07/2025
NEWS
A NEW LAYOUT FOR THE FLEMISH MASTERS ROOM

Pinacoteca

Natura morta<br>Jago and Caravaggio: two views on the transience of life

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

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