Milan (Italy) -- Description and travel; Milan (Italy) -- History
There are some ruined frescoes by Gaudenzio Ferrari in the fourth Chapel
on the south side of the church. The old, low-vaulted ornate chapel of
the Rosario, on the north side, has some fifteenth century frescoes,
also ruined. Close to the altar is a large sepulchral monument to the
Della Torre family, late fifteenth century, attributed to the Cazzaniga.
The monument to Branda Castiglione, with the realistic profile and
delicate arabesques, is perhaps by Briosco,[17] and that to the Della
Valle by Fusina.
Footnote 17:
See Malaguzzi Valeri, _G. A. Amadeo_, p. 238.
The most interesting part of the building architecturally is the small
cloister which leads to the old sacristy, both recently restored. Here
the beautiful porticoes, in which the characteristic Lombard charm of
colour due to the combination of brick and stone is joined to a singular
purity and grace of form, justify the traditional belief that Bramante
was the architect. The sacristy also, a lofty rectangular building, is
probably his. The roof is decorated with a curious painted pattern of
intertwisted cords, such as is seen in some of Leonardo’s drawings.
There are beautiful presses, some of which are inlaid, others painted in
imitation of inlay; they are decorated with small painted scenes,
biblical and legendary. They were begun in 1498 by the sacristan, Fra
Vincenzo Spanzotto, and continued later under the care of Matteo
Bandello. In the recess at the east end there is a very poor altarpiece,
representing Gaspare Vimercati kneeling before St. John Baptist,
attributed to Marco d’Oggiono; and on either side of the chapel a
profile in bas-relief, one a portrait of the Moro, the other of his son
Maximilian, a charming-looking youth with curling hair, at about the age
when he returned to Milan as Duke—by some Milanese sculptor of the early
sixteenth century. A fresco on the right-hand side, by Luini, shows
Madonna, with Beatrice d’Este and one of her little sons kneeling as
devotees. It is a charming presentment, joyous and young, of the
princess as she may have remained in the memory of the artist from the
days of his youth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account