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

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

Pinacoteca

MAY 3: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

Ambrosiana

MAY 3: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

From 18.00 to 19.30 pm entrance to the Pinacoteca and Crypt at the special price of €3.00

03/05/2025-03/05/2025
JUBILEE 2025 – XVII CENTENARY OF THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

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