Ambrosiana

Envisioning and representing Africa

Each of the remarkably diverse traditions that compose the complex mosaic of African cultures has elaborated, over the centuries, its own forms, spaces and modalities of self-representation, written and unwritten.

In this regard, taking as its theme autobiography in tandem with biography, the V Dies Academicus of the Ambrosian Academy’s Classis Africana aims to explore self-writing in its myriad forms and modalities, from memoir, confession, journal, travel writing, letters and diary to semi-autobiographical fiction, interviews, visual arts and fashion.

Self-writing allows subjects to relate and, above all, to invent themselves across diverse circumstances and life experiences. Biography, which may come to us also via a range of media–oral narrative, written texts, documentary film, graphic and musical arts–brings into play multiple perspectives on its subject, developed retrospectively and perhaps from a distance, adumbrating and contextualizing more deliberately and sometimes projecting its subject as the very emblem of an historical time and place.

What are the pleasures of autobiography and biography for readers? Who are their readers, listeners or spectators? Can we identify historical moments in which these forms have greater or lesser appeal as narratives of an individual life or as ethnographic accounts? Is either tendency better? Are readings of African autobiographies as “ethnographic” problematic? Taking into account formal properties, as well as the challenges and possibilities of diverse media and genres, the study of autobiography and biography allows us to traverse centuries, ethnicities, states, languages and cultures, enabling an understanding of the intimate relationship of varied geo-political and historical contexts and the arts of representation.

PROGRAM

Friday, 10th February 2023

4.30 pm New Academicians’ appointment and official opening of the Dies Academicus

5.00 pm
Session I – Autobiographies (Chair: Eileen Julien and Mena B. Lafkioui)

Tassadit Yacine (Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales – Paris), Féminité, modes de résistances et subjectivité dans le monde kabyle (XIX-XXème siècle), en Algérie

Emanuele Marcello Ciampini (Università Ca’ Foscari – Venice), On the Egyptian (pharaonic) autobiographies as a literary genre

Emanuela Trevisan Semi (Università Ca’ Foscari – Venice), Letters as autobiography among the Beta Israel, the case of Taamrat Emmanuel and Tadesse Yacov, uncle and nephew in the resistance against Italian occupation. (online)

Saturday, 11th February 2023

9.30 am
Session II – Biographies (Chairs Mena B. Lafkioui)

Nafisa Valieva (Collège de France – Paris), Reading of the ‘Life of Lālibalā’ (Gadla Lālibalā) as a biography and a portrait of Ethiopian society

Annunziata Di Rienzo (Sapienza Università – Rome), “Perfect in all virtue”. Life and Encomium of John Colobos: monastic life and cultural crossroads at Sketis

Mohamed Meouak (Universidad de Cádiz), Résultats préliminaires d’une enquête sur les Wafayāt d’Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-Wanšarīsī (mort en 1508): un recueil de notices nécrologiques/biographiques contenant des matériaux anthroponymiques et toponymiques berbères

Mena B. Lafkioui (Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales – Centre national de recherche scientifique – Paris), Abdelkrim. A never-ending biographical narrative of a unique Amazigh leader

2.45 pm
Session III – Film biography (Chairs Eileen Julien)

Introductiory remarks by Samba Gadjigo (Mt. Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA, author of Ousmane Sembène: A Revolutionary Artist), and

Eileen Julien (Indiana University, USA) La noire de… (Black Girl) [1966], Screening

Sembène [2016], Screening

followed by: Q & A session

5.50 pm
Conclusion and greetings

Lectures of the two days will be in English, French and Italian

Free admission

WHAT’S ON

PINACOTECA AND CRYPT: AUGUST OPENING HOURS

Pinacoteca

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

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

Cup with Turbo marmoratus shell, Christoph Lencker (1556 circa-1613)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 455 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome, Cesare Magni (1511-1534)
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Giovanni Busi detto Cariani (1480-1547)
Portrait of a Lady, Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis (1455-1508)
The Madonna and Child with a Worshipper, Bernardino Betti detto il Pinturicchio (1454-1513)
Nautilus shell, Sconosciuto
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Ambito di Francesco Albani (1578-1660)
The Placing of Christ in the Sepulchre, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Holy Family, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
The Adoration of the Magi, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli also known as Morazzone (1571-1626)
Mary Magdalene Penitent, Guido Reni (1575-1642)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 873 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Libro d’Ore Borromeo, Cristoforo de Predis (1440-1486)
Self Portrait, Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844)
Seascape, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Judith and Holofernes, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, Ubertini Francesco detto Bachiacca (1494-1557)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 49 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Mercury and Argus, Anonimo genovese (XVII secolo)
Portrait of a Young Man, Vittore Ghislandi detto Frà Galgario (1655-1743)
Jael and Sisera, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 909 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 851 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Paolo Morigia, Fede Galizia (1578-1630)
The Ambrosian Virgil of Francesco Petrarca, NA
The Madonna Nursing the Child by the Fountain, Bernaert van Orley (1488-1541)
The Madonna of the Pavilion, Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi detto) (1444 o 1445-1510)
Original Sin, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Daggers with sheath (eared sfondagiaco dagger), Milanese Gunsmiths
Orrery, Sconosciuto
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 26 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The infant Jesus with a Lamb, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
The School of Athens, Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)
Lesenes and trophies, Agostino Busti detto il Bambaia (1483-1548)
Mouse with Roses, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Annunciation, Gerolamo Mazzola Bedoli (1500-1569)
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Head of Christ the Redeemer, Gian Giacomo Caprotti detto Salai (1480-1524)
The Last Supper, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Flowers and Roses, Gaetano Previati (1852-1920)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 71 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
De divina proportione, Luca Pacioli (1445 circa – 1517)
Portrait of Napoleon King of Italy, Andrea Appiani (1754-1817)
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Cesare Ligari (1716-1770)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 719 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 104 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Maternity, Mosè Bianchi (1840-1904)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1058 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Latin astrolabe, Anonymous
The Adoration, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Allegorical Female Figure, Giovanni Serodine (1600-1631)
Male portrait, Hans Muelich (1516-1573)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 858 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Clock with astrolabe, Sconosciuto
The Adoration of the Magi, Maestro del Santo Sangue (XVI secolo)
Burse, Artista dell’Italia centrale
Horse’s head (Copy from the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome), NA
Portrait of Giuseppina Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Saint Michael the Archangel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Portrait of a Young Girl with a Dove, Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858)
Adoration of the Magi, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Damned Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 21 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Crib, Federico Barocci o Baroccio detto il Fiori (1535-1612) (replica di)
Portico in Ruins, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
The Holy Family with Sain John, Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, Bonifacio Veronese (1487-1553)
View of the Interior of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 663 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1006 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Martyrdom of Saint Peter of Verona, Alessandro Bonvicino detto Moretto (1490-1554)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 12 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Dantesque window, Giuseppe Bertini (1825-1898)
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, Marco d’Oggiono (1470-1525)
Figured casket, Scultore lombardo
Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Plato, Giovanni Antonio Piatti (1447-1480)
Portrait of Bernardino da Lesmo, Bartolomeo Veneto (1502-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 3 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Adoration with Saint Roch, Gian Pietro Rizzoli detto Giampietrino (1508-1549)
Naturalis Historia, Plinio il Vecchio (23-79 dC)
Basket of fruit, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Susanna at her Bath, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
The Adoration of the Magi, Andrea Schiavone (1510-1563)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 845 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Blessed Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Flowers in a Vase, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
llias picta, NA
Mary Magdalene, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Kiss, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Virgin of the Rocks, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Apse of San Satiro and View of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Portrait of Saint Charles Borromeo, Giovanni Ambrogio Figino (1548-1608)
Still Life with Musical Instruments, Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
Pietà (copy from Michelangelo), Leone Leoni
Saint John the Baptist, Gian Giacomo Caprotti
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Antonio Badile (1518-1560)
Portrait of a Pilgrim, Monogrammista HL (XVI secolo)
Allegory of Fire, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Arco della Pace in Milan, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 812 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Diana the Huntress, Joachim Friess (XVI-XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 29 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 307 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 844 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Self Portrait, Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
Allegory of Water, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Jacopo da Ponte detto il Bassano (1510-1592)
Octagonal casket, Bottega degli Embriachi (XIV-XV secolo)
Locked out of school, Emilio Longoni (1859-1932)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1069 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Portrait of Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine (later Leopold II), Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779)
The Magdalen and the Angel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Christ Resurrected, Marco Basaiti (1470-1530)
Display case with the hair of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfredo Ravasco
Kids and Lambs, Francesco Londonio (1723-1783)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 4 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Dormition of the Virgin, Anonimo ferrarese (XV secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 145 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Pietro Antonio Magatti (1691-1767)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 272 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Giovanni Battista Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 710 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 139 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Washerwomen at the Canal, Emilio Gola (1851-1923)
The Assumption of the Virgin, Giovanni Agostino da Lodi (1467-1524 circa)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 860 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Winter Landscape with Skaters, Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)
Portrait of a Young Man, Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco copia da) (1478 circa-1510)
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Napoleon Bonaparte’s gloves, NA
Laocoon (copy of the Vatican original), Leone Leoni
Portrait of Emilia Morosini Zeltner, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Ceremonial saddle and stirrups. Detail of the wooden horse of Troy, Arte armaiola milanese
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 117 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Sacra Conversazione, Ambrogio da Fossano detto il Bergognone (1453-1523)
The Triumph of David, Lucas Hugenszoon detto Luca di Leida (1494-1533)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 116 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Man in Armour, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 5 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
A Soul in Purgatory, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 33 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
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)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 199 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 72 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Noctes Atticae, Aulo Gellio
Portrait of Alessandro Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Armillary sphere, NA
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)
Portrait of Manfredo Settala, Daniele Crespi (1600-1630) attribuito a