Hospital project of Filarete_University of Milan
The project of the Filarete
Filarete conceived a rectangular plan, in the center of which there was a church and on the sides of which there were two symmetrical bodies, square and characterized by two cruises; the latter defined each four inner courtyards, in turn square.
Pharmacy Courtyard (2020) by Valentino AlbiniUniversity of Milan
Pharmacy Courtyard
The Pharmacy Courtyard was the first of four courtyards to be built, under the direction of Filarete.
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Initially the courtyard was intended to house the hospital’s administrative offices, including the Chapter of Deputies, which directed the organization of the hospital.
Graffiti
The prestigious destination was probably the origin of the elegant decoration that once adorned the pillars, of which there are traces of graffiti in squares, reproducing vases with loops in the shape of snakes and birds laid on the edges.
The 17th and 18th century vases
Until the Second World War, the Pharmacy held numerous majolica, of which at least five originals are known, now preserved at the Museum of Applied Arts of the Sforzesco Castle in Milan, at the Museum für Kunst a Gewerbe in Hamburg and at the Fotzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Ice House Courtyard (2020) by Valentino AlbiniUniversity of Milan
Ice house courtyard
The first records of its construction date back to 1481-82. Perhaps already in 1508 there was a place here for the pharmacy of the Hospital, where medicines were prepared, drawing also on the medicinal plants grown in the garden adjacent to the Naviglio.
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The construction in 1636 of a snowfield, that is an ice-house, in the middle of the courtyard, brings with it a new name of the still current space. It contained compressed snow in the central body, where it was stored where food and medicines were stored.
Bathhouse Courtyard (2020) by Valentino AlbiniUniversity of Milan
The Courtyard of the Baths
The courtyard of the Baths, designed by Filarete who personally directed the execution of the work until 1465, was initially intended for the shelter of solvent patients and special guests.
Starting from the eighteenth century in the center of the Courtyard, was erected the complex of bathrooms, a building of octagonal shape, of which the remains are visible, with spaces divided between men and women, with six pools for immersion.
Wood Store Courtyard (2020) by Valentino AlbiniUniversity of Milan
Woodstore Courtyard
The last of the four courtyards surrounding the Sforza cruise is the one now called della Legnaia, whose construction by Lombard workers inspired by the Filarete project, starts on 19 February 1487, before the Feast of Forgiveness.
Wood Store Courtyard (2020) by Valentino AlbiniUniversity of Milan
Only from the second half of the eighteenth century there are references to a woodshed, which was located within the perimeter of the courtyard.
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In 1995 archaeological excavations uncovered large quantities of animal bones and horns, possibly produced by the internal butcher.
VUMM-Virtual UniMi Museum, was conceived, designed, built, and released by the Università degli Studi di Milano.
Project Team - Conception and technological-scientific direction: Goffredo Haus – Prorector for Digital Innovation, ICT Services, Strategic Projects, and Special Initiatives.
- Project Management. Planning, creation, content editing: Marcella Mattavelli – Deployment of Intellectual Property and Innovation Division.
- Digital design and creation: Adriano Baratè – ICT Division
The same working group edited and created the Google Arts & Culture page dedicated to VUMM.
Special thanks are due Magnificent Rector Elio Franzini, Prorector for Third Mission, Territory, and Cultural Activities Marina Carini, General Director Roberto Conte, and Director of Deployment of Intellectual Property and Innovation Division Roberto Tiezzi, who strongly believed in this initiative and supported it by working with all institutional offices and faculty bodies.
