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He finally went to Italy: art from Castello Sforezco in Milan

Updated 10/9/2025

Castello Sforezco Bas-relief 1 Ridiculously detailed bas-relief sculptures.
Castello Sforezco Bas-relief 2 These were around 2 feet tall!
Castello Sforezco Bas-relief 3
Castello Sforezco Wood sculpture 1 Ridiculously detailed wood sculpture.
Castello Sforezco Wood sculpture 2 No Dremel... no power tools whatsoever... just a man and his hammer, saws, and chisels.
Castello Sforezco gonfalon textile art Banners/gonfalons/textile art - there's a lot more where this came from if you're into that sort of thing... which I'm not.
Martyrdom of Saint Julia Martyrdom of Saint Julia (at least I think it's Julia) by Carlo Carliari, 1595
Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian by Antonio Campi, 1575. Extra arrows in case you didn't get the, er, point.
Male Portrait by Tintoretto Male Portrait by Tintoretto, 1546 - 1548
Portrait of a Man Reading by Correggio Portrait of a Man Reading by Correggio, 1517 - 1523
Adoration of the Shepherds with Saint Francis Adoration of the Shepherds with Saint Francis by Malosso, circa 1580

Giulo Procaccini, 1574 - 1625

Expect to see a whole lot more of his work - I like it a lot. In addition to being really good he appears to have been insanely productive given he only lived 51 years. His paintings are all over Milan and also at the Galleria Sabauda in Turin. A new favorite and pleasant discovery, thanks Milan!

Judith and Holofernea by Procaccini Judith and Holofernea by Procaccini, circa 1620
The Holy Family by Procaccini The Holy Family by Procaccini, 1615 - 1619
Adoration of the Magi by Procaccini Adoration of the Magi by Procaccini, 1625
Adoration of the Shepherds by Crespi Adoration of the Shepherds by Crespi, 1623 - 1625.
Another mystery painting from Castello Sforezco Sorry guy, I failed you. Anyone know this (terrific) painting?
Berenice Offers Her Hair to Venus Berenice Offers Her Hair to Venus by Bernardo Strozzi, circa 1636. Her attitude kinda reminds of some of Franz Hals' portraits.
Portrait of a Poet by Cairo Portrait of a Poet by Francesco Cairo, circa 1645.
Constantine Receiving the Tools of the Passion Constantine Receiving the Instruments of the Passion by Procaccini, 1620. Sorry about the blue highlight on the left, they wouldn't let me pull the windowshades down.
Constantine Receiving the Tools of the Passion, detail Detail.
Coin Workers in the Mint, with St. Elegius of the Goldsmiths and Madonna and Child Coin Workers in the Mint, with St. Elegius of the Goldsmiths and Madonna and Child by Montalto, circa 1640. In this case the unfortunate highlight actually kinda accentuates what's already going on in the painting.
St. Joseph and Child by Carlo Francesco Nuvolone St. Joseph and Child by Carlo Francesco Nuvolone, circa 1638.
St. Catherine Visited in Prison by the Empress Faustina St. Catherine Visited in Prison by the Empress Faustina by Carlo Preda, after 1694.
Holy Hermit Holy Hermit by Jusepe de Ribera, circa 1650. I was pleasantly surprised to see old friend Ribera, who I first saw in Madrid.
Holy Hermit Detail. Here in Italy they call him Spagnoletto (the Spanish guy).
Portrait of a Youth Dressed as an Artist Portrait of a Youth Dressed as an Artist by Fra' Galgario, circa 1730. Always nice to discover a new (to me) talent. One possibility: I didn't pay nearly enough attention in freshman year art history (true).
Portrait of a Youth Dressed as a Sculptor Portrait of a Youth Dressed as a Sculptor by Fra' Galgario, circa 1730. Another possibility: there's sooo many good painters there's no way a freshman year survey course could cover them all.
The Pier Towards the Shore of Schiavoni with the Column of St. Mark The Pier Towards the Shore of Schiavoni with the Column of St. Mark by Canaletto, before 1742. I'm not big into landscapes but he's interesting for two reasons.
The Pier Towards the Shore of Schiavoni with the Column of St. Mark, detail Detail. First, as a historical document of Venice in the 1700s. Second, the amount of detail. He must have had brushes with a single hair! Unbelievable. Canaletto was his nickname, by the way. "Guy from the canals."
Storm with Bridge and Tower Storm with Bridge and Tower by Lissandrino and Antonio Francesco Peruzzino, before 1700. Interesting, a team effort.
Storm with Bridge and Tower, detail Detail.
Vintage Audio Equipment The Castello also has an extensive collection of historical musical instruments and vintage audio equipment from the RAI (Italy's national broadcaster). Cool!
Michelangelo's Pieta (unfinished) Michelangelo's (unfinished) Pieta. What I said at the top of this page. I am 500% sure the master is rolling in his grave knowing people are even looking at this. What IS interesting is seeing a work in progress, pulling the figures out of the stone.