Literally a “holy conversation”, a Sacra Conversazione is a representation of the Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by a number of saints, as we see in this majestic panel, which was originally in the church of Sant’Epifanio in Pavia. It was later taken to the more famous San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, also in Pavia, and eventually came to the Ambrosiana in 1777. The Virgin is seated on a high throne with the Child on her lap, blessing the donor, who commissioned the painting and who is seen kneeling with cap in hand as a mark of respect: this is the pronotary Gerolamo Calagrani, shown in ecclesiastic attire. Behind him, on the left there are Saint Jerome, Saint Augustine, Saint Ambrose and Saint Gregory the Great. The second group of saints form a crowd on the right: Saint Epiphanius, Saint Liberata, Saint Luminosa and Saint Speciosa.
An exhibition that aims at reconstructing the "considerable collection of books” belonging to Don Ferrante, which Alessandro Manzoni describes in the Promessi Sposi (The Bethroted).
The combo ticket Duomo + Ambrosiana is available in a new version which includes also the Ascent on foot to the Duomo terraces and access to the San Sepolcro Crypt.
Every Saturday at 15.30 a guided tour of the masterpieces of the Pinacoteca, together with professional guides of our official partner AdArtem
Until June 13, 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.
