Ambrosiana

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, detail, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed

From October 12, 2023, the exhibition “The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed will be on display in the windows of rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca.

There is no need to remember how much the figure of Cardinal Federico Borromeo and his great Milanese institution had an impact on the construction of the Betrothed.
Precisely for this reason the Ambrosiana commemorates the 150th anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni’s death with this selected exhibition of rare volumes which, by explicit admission of the Author, provided historical material for the ‘truthful’ creation of the Novel.
For the most part, these are texts that are not easy to find – some are even the only surviving examples – which provided Manzoni with the information for the plot of his story.
Thus, also on this theme, the Ambrosiana Library manages to draw, from its inexhaustible book heritage, precious relics that can offer new sources of studies and interpretations on the figure of the most famous novelist of Italian literature.

<p><em>Portrait of Federico Borromeo</em>, from<br />
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti<br />
Z351 sup, f. 413v</p>

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

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)

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