Ambrosiana

Carlo Mattioli
Dal cestino del Caravaggio
1968
Olio su tela, 40×50 cm

MATTIOLI/CARAVAGGIO.
THE LIGHTFUL FRUIT

The exhibition features twenty oil works by Carlo Mattioli, one of the Italian masters of twentieth century art, which interact with Caravaggio’s Basket of Fruit

The exhibition, entitled Mattioli / Caravaggio. The lightful fruit, conceived and organized by the Carlo Mattioli Foundation of Parma, presents twenty oil paintings that promote knowledge of the work and creative process of the Emilian painter through the profound dialogue with the masterpiece by Caravaggio.

The courage to confront an absolute master like Caravaggio and one of his most iconic works lies at the origin of a cycle of paintings and drawings that Mattioli wanted to present at the 1968 Venice Biennale, but which remained visible only on the day of the inauguration, due to the social and political contest that developed in that year and which also involved sectors such as culture and art. The Baskets of Caravaggio by Carlo Mattioli thus returned to the silence of the studio in which they were born.

The exhibition itinerary, divided into three thematic areas, is proposed as a narrative that develops through the contemporary suggestions of Mattioli.

The analytical theme and the creative process are set up in the first two rooms within seven showcases that offer a suggestive vision of the materials used by the painter. The construction theme is concentrated in the third room in direct dialogue with Caravaggio’s Canestra and is obtained from an evocative setting based on the half-light of the room. The conceptual theme, in the fourth room, proposes the vision of the latest works relating to the Canestra and, slightly apart, a video section, which narrates the evolution of Mattioli’s exploratory process.

Mattioli tackles the Ambrosian genre and model remaining in a personal limbo, suspended between a figuration that will never be complete and an abstraction that cannot be completely abandoned. The relationship with the model becomes a long filtered study with the image of a cluster of boxes and leaves resting on a perch in his studio.

Mattioli approaches the seventeenth-century model, declining it first in a profound study linked to volume and light, then enlarging the details, with the basket becoming the fulcrum around which all his research revolves.

The title, The lightful fruit, aims to play on the double vision and perception of the light that illuminates the fruit basket but through the filter of delicacy (delight), as if it were an intimate, closed and collected space.

In the film sequences that accompany the actual exhibition, the works are collected in an unreal space, a silvery space like a daguerreotype. This visual grammar aims to highlight the basic elements that the artist used, without placing the didactic details of the document at the center of the discourse. Quotes, shadows, lights, and an obsessive theme to decline his own language, beyond the work of Caravaggio.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog (published by Tacuino) with a text by Professor Claudio Strinati and a precious contribution by Roberto Tassi.

It is recommended to wear the surgical mask for the entire visit.

WHAT’S ON

JUBILEE 2025 – XVII CENTENARY OF THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

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