Ambrosiana

The Ambrosiana was, is and must remain a source of research, dialogue, knowledge, culture and spirituality, always in the spirit of the motto that Manzoni placed as the ideal seal on Federico Borromeo’s work: ‘A steady intent in the search for and practice of the best.’

Biblioteca

The Ambrosian Library, founded by Cardinal Federico Borromeo on 1607 and inaugurated on 1609, was one of the earliest libraries to grant access to all who could read and write. It was conceived by its founder as a centre for study and culture.

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Pinacoteca

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana was established in April 1618, when Cardinal Federico Borromeo donated his collection of paintings, drawings and statues to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, which he had founded in 1607.

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Accademia

The Accademia purpose is to raise the Ambrosiana to the level of an Agora, a place devoted to fostering the dialogue between diverse peoples and heterogeneous
cultures, a crossroads between North and South, East and West.

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  • Opening hours: Monday 1/9/2025
    • Biblioteca: today we are open 9.00-16.50
    • Pinacoteca: today we are open 10.00-18.00
  • Piazza Pio XI, 2 Milano | t +39 02 806921
  • Hours: Monday 1/9/2025
    • Biblioteca: today we are open 9.00-16.50
    • Pinacoteca: today we are open 10.00-18.00

What’s on

The program of exhibitions, conferences and meetings of the Library, Pinacoteca and Ambrosiana Academy at your fingertips.

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

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

Pinacoteca

A NEW LAYOUT FOR THE FLEMISH MASTERS ROOM

Pinacoteca

Reading room: summer closure

Biblioteca

Reading room: summer closure

Reading room closed from July 21 to August 31 included

08/07/2025
NEWS

The other faces of the Ambrosiana

The most magical and ancient places of Milan: the ancient Forum where Constantine, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine and Theodosius walked, and the lower Church of Santo Sepolcro, built by the Crusaders… as well as a colossal statue of St. Charles Borromeo on Lake Maggiore; a Museum-Home at the Sacro Monte of Varese; a Foundation dedicated to the promotion of young artists: this is also the Ambrosiana!
Discover the other institutions of the Ambrosiana

THE COLOSSUS OF SAINT CHARLES IN ARONA

THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS

THE COLOSSUS OF SAINT CHARLES IN ARONA

The Colossus of Saint Charles in Arona, which popular tradition has affectionately dubbed San Carlone, was created in the seventeenth century at the behest of Federico Borromeo, archbishop of Milan and founder of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana.

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LODOVICO POGLIAGHI MUSEUM-HOME

THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS

LODOVICO POGLIAGHI MUSEUM-HOME

Lodovico Pogliaghi was one of the most significant Lombard artists to live in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

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MARCO MANTOVANI FOUNDATION

THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS

MARCO MANTOVANI FOUNDATION

The Marco Mantovani Foundation seeks to preserve and enhance the works of the sculptor Marco Mantovani, as evidence of the life of an artist dedicated to sculpture and art.

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CHURCH OF SAN SEPOLCRO

THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS

CHURCH OF SAN SEPOLCRO

The church of San Sepolcro was founded in 1030, when a Milanese moneyer named Rozzone built a church on the ancient Roman forum. Archbishop Ariberto d’Intimiano solemnly consecrated it to the Holy Trinity.

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ROMAN FORUM

THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS

ROMAN FORUM

Between 1990 and 1992, archaeological excavations conducted underneath the ancient cellars of the Ambrosiana brought to light a portion of the pavement of the ancient Roman forum, the heart of Mediolanum's political, economic and religious life.

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ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

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