Ambrosiana

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, detail, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed

From October 12, 2023, the exhibition “The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed will be on display in the windows of rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca.

There is no need to remember how much the figure of Cardinal Federico Borromeo and his great Milanese institution had an impact on the construction of the Betrothed.
Precisely for this reason the Ambrosiana commemorates the 150th anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni’s death with this selected exhibition of rare volumes which, by explicit admission of the Author, provided historical material for the ‘truthful’ creation of the Novel.
For the most part, these are texts that are not easy to find – some are even the only surviving examples – which provided Manzoni with the information for the plot of his story.
Thus, also on this theme, the Ambrosiana Library manages to draw, from its inexhaustible book heritage, precious relics that can offer new sources of studies and interpretations on the figure of the most famous novelist of Italian literature.

<p><em>Portrait of Federico Borromeo</em>, from<br />
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti<br />
Z351 sup, f. 413v</p>

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

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)

Mercury and Argus, Anonimo genovese (XVII secolo)
Flowers and Roses, Gaetano Previati (1852-1920)
The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, Marco d’Oggiono (1470-1525)
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Antonio Badile (1518-1560)
The Holy Family with Sain John, Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, Bonifacio Veronese (1487-1553)
Portrait of Saint Charles Borromeo, Giovanni Ambrogio Figino (1548-1608)
Portico in Ruins, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Noctes Atticae, Aulo Gellio
The Blessed Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Allegory of Fire, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Head of Christ the Redeemer, Gian Giacomo Caprotti detto Salai (1480-1524)
Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
De divina proportione, Luca Pacioli (1445 circa – 1517)
Armillary sphere, NA
The Adoration, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 710 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Horse’s head (Copy from the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome), NA
The Madonna and Child with a Worshipper, Bernardino Betti detto il Pinturicchio (1454-1513)
Male portrait, Hans Muelich (1516-1573)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 33 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 145 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 812 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Sacra Conversazione, Ambrogio da Fossano detto il Bergognone (1453-1523)
Portrait of a Gentleman (Michel de l’Hospital), Giovan Battista Moroni (1520-1578)
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Jacopo da Ponte detto il Bassano (1510-1592)
The Annunciation, Gerolamo Mazzola Bedoli (1500-1569)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Pietro Antonio Magatti (1691-1767)
Daggers with sheath (eared sfondagiaco dagger), Milanese Gunsmiths
Octagonal casket, Bottega degli Embriachi (XIV-XV secolo)
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Cesare Ligari (1716-1770)
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
The Dormition of the Virgin, Anonimo ferrarese (XV secolo)
Portrait of Emilia Morosini Zeltner, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Crib, Federico Barocci o Baroccio detto il Fiori (1535-1612) (replica di)
Portrait of Napoleon King of Italy, Andrea Appiani (1754-1817)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 139 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 149 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 5 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 455 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Pietà (copy from Michelangelo), Leone Leoni
The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome, Cesare Magni (1511-1534)
The infant Jesus with a Lamb, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Maternity, Mosè Bianchi (1840-1904)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 307 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Self Portrait, Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844)
Diana the Huntress, Joachim Friess (XVI-XVII secolo)
Basket of fruit, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Allegorical Female Figure, Giovanni Serodine (1600-1631)
The Adoration of the Magi, Maestro del Santo Sangue (XVI secolo)
Self Portrait, Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
Clock with astrolabe, Sconosciuto
Adoration of the Magi, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The School of Athens, Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)
Jael and Sisera, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
The Adoration with Saint Roch, Gian Pietro Rizzoli detto Giampietrino (1508-1549)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 663 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)
The Virgin of the Rocks, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1069 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Allegory of Water, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Portrait of Giuseppina Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Madonna of the Pavilion, Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi detto) (1444 o 1445-1510)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 858 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Ceremonial saddle and stirrups. Detail of the wooden horse of Troy, Arte armaiola milanese
Dantesque window, Giuseppe Bertini (1825-1898)
Kids and Lambs, Francesco Londonio (1723-1783)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 844 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
A Soul in Purgatory, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Flowers in a Vase, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Original Sin, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Orrery, Sconosciuto
Portrait of a Pilgrim, Monogrammista HL (XVI secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 72 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 909 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 49 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Manfredo Settala, Daniele Crespi (1600-1630) attribuito a
The Last Supper, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Ambito di Francesco Albani (1578-1660)
Saint John the Baptist, Gian Giacomo Caprotti
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Bernardino da Lesmo, Bartolomeo Veneto (1502-1530)
The Madonna Nursing the Child by the Fountain, Bernaert van Orley (1488-1541)
Portrait of a Young Girl with a Dove, Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858)
Burse, Artista dell’Italia centrale
Portrait of a Young Man, Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco copia da) (1478 circa-1510)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 116 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Holy Family, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 104 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 117 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 845 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Martyrdom of Saint Peter of Verona, Alessandro Bonvicino detto Moretto (1490-1554)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 26 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 21 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Latin astrolabe, Anonymous
The Triumph of David, Lucas Hugenszoon detto Luca di Leida (1494-1533)
llias picta, NA
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Giovanni Busi detto Cariani (1480-1547)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 71 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Assumption of the Virgin, Giovanni Agostino da Lodi (1467-1524 circa)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 29 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 851 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Cup with Turbo marmoratus shell, Christoph Lencker (1556 circa-1613)
Portrait of a Young Man, Vittore Ghislandi detto Frà Galgario (1655-1743)
Still Life with Musical Instruments, Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 860 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Giovanni Battista Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Judith and Holofernes, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
The Arco della Pace in Milan, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, Ubertini Francesco detto Bachiacca (1494-1557)
Winter Landscape with Skaters, Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 272 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Locked out of school, Emilio Longoni (1859-1932)
View of the Interior of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Christ Resurrected, Marco Basaiti (1470-1530)
Man in Armour, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 719 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 199 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Libro d’Ore Borromeo, Cristoforo de Predis (1440-1486)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 873 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Washerwomen at the Canal, Emilio Gola (1851-1923)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 12 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Mary Magdalene Penitent, Guido Reni (1575-1642)
Apse of San Satiro and View of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Mouse with Roses, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Damned Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Figured casket, Scultore lombardo
Portrait of Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine (later Leopold II), Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779)
Napoleon Bonaparte’s gloves, NA
Display case with the hair of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfredo Ravasco
Nautilus shell, Sconosciuto
Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Magdalen and the Angel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 4 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Kiss, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Adoration of the Magi, Andrea Schiavone (1510-1563)
Lesenes and trophies, Agostino Busti detto il Bambaia (1483-1548)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Portrait of Paolo Morigia, Fede Galizia (1578-1630)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 3 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Seascape, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
The Ambrosian Virgil of Francesco Petrarca, NA
Mary Magdalene, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Naturalis Historia, Plinio il Vecchio (23-79 dC)
Plato, Giovanni Antonio Piatti (1447-1480)
Saint Michael the Archangel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
The Placing of Christ in the Sepulchre, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1006 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1058 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Laocoon (copy of the Vatican original), Leone Leoni
Portrait of Alessandro Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Susanna at her Bath, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
The Adoration of the Magi, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli also known as Morazzone (1571-1626)
Portrait of a Lady, Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis (1455-1508)
Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)