Michelino Molinari da Besozzo
Encyclopedia
Michelino Molinari da Besozzo (c. 1370 – c. 1455) was an Italian
painter
and illuminator. He worked mostly in Milan
and Lombardy
.
, in 1388 he worked in the second cloister of the church of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
at Pavia
, where he frescoed the Scenes of the Life of St. Augustine. In 1395-1405 he executed the miniatures for a breviary
, currently housed in the Library of Avignon
in France. A drawing of the Nativity (now in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana
of Milan) dates to the same period. Other four saints on different parchments, from another breviary, owned by the Cabinet des Dessins of the Louvre Museum, Paris
(1390-1400).
The first dated work from the artist is a miniature with the Funerary Eulogy of Gian Galeazzo Visconti
(1403). Michelino worked in the Veneto
from 1404 to c. 1418. In 1410 he is mentioned in Venice
together with Gentile da Fabriano
.
In 1414, together with other Veneto illuminators, he worked at the Cornaro Codex. The panel of the Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine, signed "Michelinus feci" and housed in the National Gallery of Siena
, dates to c. 1420. Another known panel from him is the Marriage of the Virgin now at the Metropolitan Museum of New York
, USA (c. 1435). Less precise is the dating of the Offiziolo Bodmer, another breviary.
In 1418 he returned to Milan to work in the construction of the city's Duomo. In 1421 he was paid for the altar entitled to Saints Quiricus and Julietta, together with his son Leonardo. Another commission given to Michelino were the drawings for the stained glasses of St. Julietta (1423-1425). A fresco depicting the Madonna with Child from c. 1430 is in the Abbey of Viboldone, while the Madonna of the Rose Garden
(attributed by some to Stefano da Verona
) is from c. 1435.
Michelino's last known work is the fresco with the Procession of the Magi in the church of Santa Maria di Podone of Milan and fragments in the Rocca Borromea of Angera
(1445-1446).
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and illuminator. He worked mostly in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
.
Biography
A native of BesozzoBesozzo
Besozzo is a town and municipality located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy.-Overview:Besozzo hosts a small historical centre with churches and noble houses, so-called Palazzi, in its upper part which is in part pedestrian zone, and a vivid modern centre with...
, in 1388 he worked in the second cloister of the church of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro is a Roman Catholic basilica of the Augustinians in Pavia, Italy, in the Lombardy region. Its name refers to the mosaics of gold leaf behind glass tesserae that formerly decorated the ceiling of the apse. The plain exterior is of brick, with sandstone quoins and window...
at Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, where he frescoed the Scenes of the Life of St. Augustine. In 1395-1405 he executed the miniatures for a breviary
Breviary
A breviary is a liturgical book of the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church containing the public or canonical prayers, hymns, the Psalms, readings, and notations for everyday use, especially by bishops, priests, and deacons in the Divine Office...
, currently housed in the Library of Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
in France. A drawing of the Nativity (now in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Biblioteca Ambrosiana
The Biblioteca Ambrosiana is a historic library in Milan, Italy, also housing the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the Ambrosian art gallery. Named after Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, it was founded by Cardinal Federico Borromeo , whose agents scoured Western Europe and even Greece and Syria for books...
of Milan) dates to the same period. Other four saints on different parchments, from another breviary, owned by the Cabinet des Dessins of the Louvre Museum, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1390-1400).
The first dated work from the artist is a miniature with the Funerary Eulogy of Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Gian Galeazzo Visconti , son of Galeazzo II Visconti and Bianca of Savoy, was the first Duke of Milan and ruled the late-medieval city just before the dawn of the Renaissance...
(1403). Michelino worked in the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
from 1404 to c. 1418. In 1410 he is mentioned in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
together with Gentile da Fabriano
Gentile da Fabriano
Gentile da Fabriano was an Italian painter known for his participation in the International Gothic style. He worked in various places in central Italy, mostly in Tuscany. His best known works are his Adoration of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt.-Biography:Gentile was born in or near Fabriano,...
.
In 1414, together with other Veneto illuminators, he worked at the Cornaro Codex. The panel of the Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine, signed "Michelinus feci" and housed in the National Gallery of Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, dates to c. 1420. Another known panel from him is the Marriage of the Virgin now at the Metropolitan Museum of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA (c. 1435). Less precise is the dating of the Offiziolo Bodmer, another breviary.
In 1418 he returned to Milan to work in the construction of the city's Duomo. In 1421 he was paid for the altar entitled to Saints Quiricus and Julietta, together with his son Leonardo. Another commission given to Michelino were the drawings for the stained glasses of St. Julietta (1423-1425). A fresco depicting the Madonna with Child from c. 1430 is in the Abbey of Viboldone, while the Madonna of the Rose Garden
Madonna of the Rose Garden
The Madonna of the Rose Garden is a Gothic painting attributed to Michelino da Besozzo or Stefano da Verona. Dating to c...
(attributed by some to Stefano da Verona
Stefano da Verona
Stefano da Verona was an Italian painter who was active in Verona.He was the son of the French painter Jean d'Arbois, who had come to Italy at the court for Gian Galeazzo Visconti after working for Philip II of Burgundy. He likely apprenticed at Pavia in the workshops of illuminators of the Visconti...
) is from c. 1435.
Michelino's last known work is the fresco with the Procession of the Magi in the church of Santa Maria di Podone of Milan and fragments in the Rocca Borromea of Angera
Angera
Angera is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. In Roman times, under the name of Angleria, it was an important lake port and road station. Angera received the title of city by Duke Ludovico il Moro of October 7, 1497. Today its major feature...
(1445-1446).