Ambrosiana

LEONARDO DA VINCI AND GUIDO DA VIGEVANO
ANATOMY IN FIGURES

The exhibition compares the method of graphical representation of two geniuses of the past, through the reproduction of the masterpiece by Guido da Vigevano Anathomia designata per figuras (1345) and Leonardo da Vinci’s revolutionary anatomical visualization by means of a selection from his numerous anatomical drawings.

Five sculptures were drawn with the traditional wax technique from Leonardo’s anatomical drawings. The exhibition is completed by the wooden model of Guido’s wind-propelled cart, designed as a war machine but which can also be considered the first auto-mobile in history.

The exhibition, curated by Paola Salvi, made possible by the city of Vigevano (owner of the exhibition itself), with the patronage of the Lombardy Region, the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan, the University of Pavia, supported by the National Committee for the celebrations 500 years since Leonardo da Vinci’s death and organized with the OverArt Association, closes the program of exhibitions proposed by the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana to enhance its heritage of Leonardo’s works, among the most important in the world.
It presents the reproduction of the 18 figures (in 16 plates) of the Anothomia treatise designated for figuras (1345) by Guido da Vigevano, alongside a series of reproductions of anatomical drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, made between 1480 and 1517 approximately. From some of these drawings, which belong to Leonardo’s vast anatomical repertoire, preserved in the collections of Queen Elizabeth II of England in Windsor Castle, five sculptures have been obtained, conceived by Paola Salvi and made by Moreno Vezzoli, with the traditional technique of waxwork.

“We wanted to focus on artistic beauty – says Paola Salvi – since Leonardo practiced the dissection to know the inside of the human body, presumably with the assistance of a “surgeon”, as was customary at the time, but with the intent to overcome it by bringing the knowledge acquired back to the life of the body in action”.
“His drawings – continues Paola Salvi – follow the anatomical fidelity of the living body, exceed in graphic refinement every “macabre” aspect and testify not only to the reality of the anatomical representation, but also the theories of his time, the same theories that Leonardo visualizes where experience does not allow him to verify and possibly refuse them”.
The exhibition itinerary is enhanced, thanks to the collaboration with Carlo E. Rottenbacher, professor of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Information Researcher at the Department of Structural Mechanics of the University of Pavia, with the reconstruction in scale of Guido da Vigevano’s “wind-propelled cart”, a wooden model deriving from the drawing reatured in the Texaurus Regis Francie (1335), a manuscript which presents remarkable mechanical and visualization solutions for its time.

<p>On the: Guido da Vigevano, Drawinng of the wind-propelled cart from <em>Texaurus regis Francie acquisitionis terre sancte de ultramare, nec non sanitas corporis eius et vita ipsius prolungationis ac etiam cum custodia propter venenum</em>, c. 1375, Yale nel Center for British Arts; on the right: the model of the wind-propelled cart by Guido da Vigevano designed by Carlo Rottenbacher.</p>

On the: Guido da Vigevano, Drawinng of the wind-propelled cart from Texaurus regis Francie acquisitionis terre sancte de ultramare, nec non sanitas corporis eius et vita ipsius prolungationis ac etiam cum custodia propter venenum, c. 1375, Yale nel Center for British Arts; on the right: the model of the wind-propelled cart by Guido da Vigevano designed by Carlo Rottenbacher.

The analogy between Guido and Leonardo da Vinci, often proposed on the grounds of similar “genius”, has a deeper and greater substantial motivation than being merely the admiration for men capable of mastering dissimilar branches of knowledge and practices, for example anatomy and engineering, disciplines which our own culture, essentially and necessarily specialist, considers as being widely different.
The exhibition continues ideally in the Sala Federiciana of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana where the exhibition Leonardo da Vinci and his legacy is on show until March 1: the artists and techniques, curated by Benedetta Spadaccini, which presents some original Leonardo drawings of the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, including anatomical studies of legs and the famous presentation letter to Ludovico il Moro, that are linked to the anatomy and the design of war machines.

<p>Ceroplastica, busto con braccio alzato; ideazione Paola Salvi, realizzazione Moreno Vezzoli</p>

Ceroplastica, busto con braccio alzato; ideazione Paola Salvi, realizzazione Moreno Vezzoli

WHAT’S ON

THE MIDDLE AGES IN MANUSCRIPT BOOKS

Pinacoteca

THE MIDDLE AGES IN MANUSCRIPT BOOKS

An itinerary through the treasures of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana curated by Federico Gallo and Stefano Martinelli Tempesta | Pinacoteca, rooms 2 and 3

25/04/2024-23/07/2024
Exhibition
MOLESKINE DETOUR

Pinacoteca

MOLESKINE DETOUR

From April 15, on the occasion of Design Week, the rooms of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana will host 'Moleskine Detour', an international exhibition promoted by Moleskine and the Moleskine Foundation.

15/04/2024-14/05/2024
Exhibition
Restoration works for the recovery of the historic balconies of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Ambrosiana

Restoration works for the recovery of the historic balconies of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Recovery of the functionality of the balconies of the Sala Federiciana, Borromeo and della Rosa through the installation of lifelines

01/03/2024
NEWS
Notice for the users of the Reading Room

Biblioteca

GUIDED TOURS IN ENGLISH

Ambrosiana

GUIDED TOURS IN ENGLISH

Every Saturday at 15.30 a guided tour of the masterpieces of the Pinacoteca, together with professional guides of our official partner AdArtem

01/04/2023-30/06/2024

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

Portrait of a Young Girl with a Dove, Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858)
Saint John the Baptist, Gian Giacomo Caprotti
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1069 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 272 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 33 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Antonio Badile (1518-1560)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 199 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Figured casket, Scultore lombardo
Pietà (copy from Michelangelo), Leone Leoni
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Portrait of a Lady, Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis (1455-1508)
Judith and Holofernes, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
The School of Athens, Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)
Winter Landscape with Skaters, Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 21 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Alessandro Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, Ubertini Francesco detto Bachiacca (1494-1557)
Flowers and Roses, Gaetano Previati (1852-1920)
The Ambrosian Virgil of Francesco Petrarca, NA
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 663 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of a Pilgrim, Monogrammista HL (XVI secolo)
The Placing of Christ in the Sepulchre, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 860 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Burse, Artista dell’Italia centrale
Mercury and Argus, Anonimo genovese (XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 26 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Christ Resurrected, Marco Basaiti (1470-1530)
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. 29 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
De divina proportione, Luca Pacioli (1445 circa – 1517)
Original Sin, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Portrait of Napoleon King of Italy, Andrea Appiani (1754-1817)
Lesenes and trophies, Agostino Busti detto il Bambaia (1483-1548)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 104 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Assumption of the Virgin, Giovanni Agostino da Lodi (1467-1524 circa)
Libro d’Ore Borromeo, Cristoforo de Predis (1440-1486)
Male portrait, Hans Muelich (1516-1573)
The Virgin of the Rocks, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Locked out of school, Emilio Longoni (1859-1932)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 909 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 845 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Self Portrait, Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
Seascape, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Adoration of the Magi, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Daggers with sheath (eared sfondagiaco dagger), Milanese Gunsmiths
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 145 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Saint Charles Borromeo, Giovanni Ambrogio Figino (1548-1608)
Dantesque window, Giuseppe Bertini (1825-1898)
Diana the Huntress, Joachim Friess (XVI-XVII secolo)
Latin astrolabe, Anonymous
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 12 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Kids and Lambs, Francesco Londonio (1723-1783)
Cup with Turbo marmoratus shell, Christoph Lencker (1556 circa-1613)
Portrait of Emilia Morosini Zeltner, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Head of Christ the Redeemer, Gian Giacomo Caprotti detto Salai (1480-1524)
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)
The Madonna and Child with a Worshipper, Bernardino Betti detto il Pinturicchio (1454-1513)
Mouse with Roses, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Laocoon (copy of the Vatican original), Leone Leoni
Naturalis Historia, Plinio il Vecchio (23-79 dC)
The Triumph of David, Lucas Hugenszoon detto Luca di Leida (1494-1533)
Napoleon Bonaparte’s gloves, NA
The Blessed Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
View of the Interior of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
The Adoration, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Sacra Conversazione, Ambrogio da Fossano detto il Bergognone (1453-1523)
Portrait of Bernardino da Lesmo, Bartolomeo Veneto (1502-1530)
Man in Armour, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Plato, Giovanni Antonio Piatti (1447-1480)
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Portrait of a Gentleman (Michel de l’Hospital), Giovan Battista Moroni (1520-1578)
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Giovanni Busi detto Cariani (1480-1547)
The Last Supper, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Display case with the hair of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfredo Ravasco
Allegory of Fire, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 149 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Washerwomen at the Canal, Emilio Gola (1851-1923)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 5 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Giuseppina Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 812 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 307 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Holy Family, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Horse’s head (Copy from the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome), NA
Portrait of Giovanni Battista Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Portico in Ruins, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 4 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Jacopo da Ponte detto il Bassano (1510-1592)
Orrery, Sconosciuto
The Annunciation, Gerolamo Mazzola Bedoli (1500-1569)
Mary Magdalene Penitent, Guido Reni (1575-1642)
The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, Marco d’Oggiono (1470-1525)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 3 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 72 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Susanna at her Bath, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
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. 117 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The infant Jesus with a Lamb, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Clock with astrolabe, Sconosciuto
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 455 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Adoration of the Magi, Maestro del Santo Sangue (XVI secolo)
Allegorical Female Figure, Giovanni Serodine (1600-1631)
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Portrait of Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine (later Leopold II), Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779)
The Damned Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
A Soul in Purgatory, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
The Kiss, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Madonna Nursing the Child by the Fountain, Bernaert van Orley (1488-1541)
The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome, Cesare Magni (1511-1534)
llias picta, NA
Still Life with Musical Instruments, Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
Mary Magdalene, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Armillary sphere, NA
Portrait of Manfredo Settala, Daniele Crespi (1600-1630) attribuito a
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 71 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Adoration with Saint Roch, Gian Pietro Rizzoli detto Giampietrino (1508-1549)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 719 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 49 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Self Portrait, Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844)
Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Jael and Sisera, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Portrait of a Young Man, Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco copia da) (1478 circa-1510)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 851 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 116 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Dormition of the Virgin, Anonimo ferrarese (XV secolo)
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1058 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 858 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Paolo Morigia, Fede Galizia (1578-1630)
Maternity, Mosè Bianchi (1840-1904)
The Arco della Pace in Milan, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1006 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 710 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Apse of San Satiro and View of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Portrait of a Young Man, Vittore Ghislandi detto Frà Galgario (1655-1743)
Basket of fruit, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Pietro Antonio Magatti (1691-1767)
Noctes Atticae, Aulo Gellio
Allegory of Water, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Crib, Federico Barocci o Baroccio detto il Fiori (1535-1612) (replica di)
Flowers in a Vase, 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. 844 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Octagonal casket, Bottega degli Embriachi (XIV-XV secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 139 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Ceremonial saddle and stirrups. Detail of the wooden horse of Troy, Arte armaiola milanese
Saint Michael the Archangel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
The Adoration of the Magi, Andrea Schiavone (1510-1563)
Nautilus shell, Sconosciuto
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Cesare Ligari (1716-1770)
The Madonna of the Pavilion, Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi detto) (1444 o 1445-1510)