The subject of the painting unfolds on three levels: a glory of angels at the top; Mary at the centre, offering the Child blessing; and, at the bottom left, the donor in the customary position of worship, shown in profile and kneeling with his cap in hand, while he receives the blessing. Traces of a second donor, symmetrical to the first one, emerged at the bottom right during recent restoration work. This detail is confirmed by the scene that appears to the left of the Virgin and Child: through a rocky arch we see an urban landscape in the background and, in front of this, two Christian knights being attacked by a Turk on horseback. The entire painting can thus probably be considered as a sort of votive offering for salvation from an attack: unfortunately, due to the damage caused to the painted surface, the portrait of only one of the two donors has survived.
Opening hours of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and of the San Sepolcro Crypt for the upcoming holidays
From April 6 to May 9 2023 the Crypt of San Sepolcro hosts the exhibition “Oliviero Rainaldi. 2023 AD”, an exhibition that traces the life of Christ in five episodes, birth, infancy, martyrdom, death and resurrection.
The Archbishop of Milan, His Excellency Mons. Mario Delpini, has appointed Msgr. Marco Maria Navoni Prefect of the College of Fellows of the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana with effect from 27 February 2023.
Rooms 2 and 3, the exhibition is the first in a series dedicated to showing us what is not normally displayed, for a wider enhancement of the Institution's heritage.
Crypt of San Sepolcro open until April 2 2023, every Saturday and Sunday from 11.00 to 17.30 | last access 17.00
