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

PINACOTECA AND CRYPT: AUGUST OPENING HOURS

Pinacoteca

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana has been awarded Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2025.

Pinacoteca

28/07/2025
NEWS
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)

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