Ambrosiana

JUBILEE 2025 – XVII CENTENARY OF THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA

From December 19, 2024 to June 17, 2025 visitors can admire the exhibition “Jubilee 2025 – XVII Centenary of the Council of Nicaea” curated by Mons. Marco Navoni and Mons. Francesco Braschi in rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca.
The exhibition is divided into two closely connected sections in which works from the Ambrosiana Library and not normally visible to the public are displayed.

Jubilee
Towards the end of 1299, the impression began to circulate among the Christian people of Europe that the transition to the new centenary year would be the occasion for a spiritual renewal, almost the beginning of a new era of peace and brotherhood. The rumor then spread – which in all likelihood arose spontaneously among the faithful – that the pilgrims who went to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome would receive a “full remission of sins”.
The massive arrival of pilgrims to Rome induced Boniface VIII, of the noble Caetani family, to grant plenary indulgence for the entire year 1300 and this concession would be repeated every hundred years in the future. Thus was born the first Holy Year or Jubilee Year: initially a centenary deadline was foreseen; then Clement VI set its deadline every fifty years (and so the second Holy Year was held in 1350). After the Holy Year of 1400, Pope Martin V established that another one should be celebrated in 1425, and introduced the rite of opening the Holy Door in the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, cathedral of Rome. This temporal reduction to every 25 years was definitively and formally established by Pope Paul II in 1470 to offer most of the faithful the highest probability of participating in the celebrations of at least one Holy Year in their lives. Finally, Pope Alexander VI, in the Jubilee of 1500, extended the rite of the opening of the Holy Door also to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo Fuori le Mura, and reserved the opening of the door to himself and for the future only to the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Among the works exhibited in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and coming from the Library is the large watercolor panel “Boniface VIII announces the first Holy Year in 1300”, a work by Giacomo Grimaldi, dated around 1590 which reconstructs Giotto’s fresco, unfortunately lost, which portrays the Pope Boniface VIII who blesses the crowd from the loggia of San Giovanni in Laterano, the cathedral of Rome, and announces the first Holy Year.

XVII Centenary of the Council of Nicaea
The Holy Year, every twenty-five years, solemnly commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, the Son of God who became man for the salvation of humanity.
In the first centuries of the Christian era, the identity of Jesus of Nazareth was one of the most debated theological questions: it was asked whether He, as the Son of God, was God like the Father, or whether he was inferior to the Father, and therefore a creature like the others, although the most excellent. He was a priest of the Church of Alexandria at the beginning of the 4th century, named Arius, who systematically denied the divinity of Christ with the intent of safeguarding the idea of ​​the uniqueness of God: this doctrine, from the name of its author, took the name of Arianism.
To solve the issue and quell the controversies that were dividing Christianity, the Emperor Constantine the Great, exactly 1700 years ago, in 325 convened the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, Asia Minor (now Turkey) according to tradition, 318 bishops took part. The Council condemned Arius’ doctrine as heretical, declaring that for the Christian faith Jesus Christ is the Son of God, equal to the Father in divinity. Furthermore, the Fathers of Nicaea fixed the date of the Easter feast, the main Christian holiday, by fixing it on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox, putting an end to the calendar differences between the Christian Churches.

Among the works in this section is the precious “Missale Ambrosianum”, a manuscript from the end of the fourteenth century in parchment. The most important fruit of the Council was the formulation of the Symbol, that is, a text that synthetically expressed the right faith professed by the Church in the Trinity: in particular the Nicene Creed recognizes in the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, true God from true God, Light from Light, “consubstantial” with the Father (exactly what the heresy denied).

<p>“Boniface VIII announces the first Holy Year in 1300”, Giacomo Grimaldi, c.1590</p>

“Boniface VIII announces the first Holy Year in 1300”, Giacomo Grimaldi, c.1590

WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER 12: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

Ambrosiana

OCTOBER 12: 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

06/10/2025-06/10/2025
SPECIAL REDUCED TICKETS € 3 FOR STUDENTS

Ambrosiana

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

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

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