The acquisition of the Trivulzio Collection
In 1935, the Municipality of Milan acquired the historic collection amassed by the noble Trivulzio family: an extremely significant collection of paintings, artworks and archaeological pieces, one of the most important in Milan and Lombardy, which was accompanied by the family's prestigious library.
Saint Theodore by Vincenzo FoppaSforzesco Castle
History of the Trivulzio family
The Trivulzio family is an ancient noble dynasty, the roots of which date back at least as far as the 13th century. Its most well-known figure is Gian Giacomo, known as "il Magno" (the Great). He lived from 1440 to 1518 and was Marshal of France from 1499 until his death, also taking over the Duchy of Milan after the fall of the Sforza family. The Trivulzio family included many key figures who were prominent patrons and collectors.
The Madonna with Child (1460s-1470s) by Vincenzo Foppa (?)Sforzesco Castle
The astonishing collection that eventually ended up (in part) at the Castello Sforzesco was established from the 18th century onwards by the branch that held the title of Marquess of Sesto Ulteriano (from 1656) and later Prince of Musocco (from 1885). The collection was started by the brothers Alessandro Teodoro (1694-1763) and, above all, Carlo (1715-1789), an accomplished and passionate scholar to whom we owe, among other things, the purchase of the manuscript by Da Vinci now known as the "Codex Trivulzianus".
Features of the Trivulzio Collection
In 1935, Luigi Alberico Trivulzio (1868-1938) sold his collection of masterpieces along with the library, which contained numerous codices and manuscript reproductions of Dante's "Divine Comedy".
Madonna with Child (Between1460 to 1465) by Giovanni BelliniSforzesco Castle
In buying the Trivulzio Collection, Milan's Civic Museum network took a giant leap forward in terms of quality, acquiring several unique masterpieces.
Madonna with Child, saints and angels, known as (Madonna Trivulzio) (Between 1429 to 1432) by Filippo LippiSforzesco Castle
The twelve paintings are undoubtedly a highlight, featuring works by Filippo Lippi, Vincenzo Foppa, Andrea Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Titian and Bronzino among others.
Portrait of Lorenzo Lenzi (1527 - 1528 approx.) by Agnolo Allori, known as BronzinoSforzesco Castle
Portrait of the Ambassador Gabriel de Luetz d’Aramont (1541/1542) by Tiziano VecellioSforzesco Castle
Madonna in glory with Saint John the Baptist, Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Benedict and Saint Jerome. (1497) by Andrea MantegnaSforzesco Castle
The Madonna and Child with Saints by Andrea Mantegna, painted for the Church of Santa Maria in Organo in Verona, is probably the gallery's most famous work, in part thanks to its majestic foreshortened perspective.
Portrait of Bartolomeo Colleoni (Between 1566 and 1569) by Giovan Battista MoroniSforzesco Castle
Portrait of Barbara Luigia d’Adda, bride of Antonio Barbiano di Belgiojoso (1747) by Jean Marc NattierSforzesco Castle
March (1504 approx. - 1509) by Vigevano manufacture. Tapestry maker Benedetto da Milano, from cartoons by Bartolomeo Suardi known as Bramantino.Sforzesco Castle
The twelve Tapestries of the Months, possibly commissioned by Gian Giacomo Trivulzio for the wedding of his son Giovanni Niccolò, are a real rarity in the history of tapestry
The series was woven in Vigevano by an Italian tapestry maker based on designs by Bartolomeo Suardi, known as Bramantino, an Italian painter with an abiding interest in perspective.
The Virgin with Child, an angel and another figure (7th-8th century (?)) by Mediterranean workshopSforzesco Castle
The collection of ivories from late antiquity is one of the world's finest.
The Redeemer with the Virgin, Saint Maurice and Otto the emperor (10th century) by Workshop of Ottonian periodSforzesco Castle
It includes a series of late Roman or early Medieval pieces, the highlight of which is the incredibly rare tablet from around 983 depicting Emperor Otto II kneeling before Christ alongside his wife and his young son Otto III.
Diptych with the two Maries at the Holy Sepulchre (End of 4th century, beginning of 5th century) by Workshop in RomeSforzesco Castle
Trivulzio set of knives (12 knives with carving knife) Trivulzio set of knives (12 knives with carving knife) (End of the 15th century(last quarter)) by Anonymous Italian. Lombard workshopSforzesco Castle
The series of knives is very unusual: the items are decorated with figures of young men and women depicted half-length and in profile, alternating with long scrolls featuring mottoes of a loving nature.
Given the subject matter, it is plausible that they were intended as a wedding gift.