The numerous transformations that the State of Milan underwent during the 18th century had a significant impact on the patronage of the ruling class, which expressed its desire to establish itself within a constantly changing system in various ways. It is therefore difficult, within the kaleidoscope represented by 18th-century Lombard art, to identify clear and coherent lines of investigation, useful – if not for presenting a unified scenario – at least for clearing the field of certain historiographical prejudices. In the construction of pleasure villas and in the pictorial decoration of city residences, Lombard noble families expressed the ability to assert the prerogatives and autonomy acquired during the period of Spanish rule, still evident in the mid-18th century. A testament to a collective portrait of the Lombard aristocracy and its members remains the project of the Ville di delizia, o siano, Palagi camparecci nello stato di Milano, engraved and printed by Marc-Antonio Dal Re, published in two separate editions in 1726 and 1743. In the following decades, the celebration of the aristocracy’s wealth and privilege was accompanied by the emergence of new cursus honorum, based on the assumption of public office within the state administration. In all cases, the common denominator can be recognized in the language of magnificence.
"è così naturale ai lombardi la magnificenza nelle di loro fabbriche": ceto dirigente e linguaggio delle arti tra fedeltà e lealtà nel Settecento lombardo
Gianpaolo Angelini
2026-01-01
Abstract
The numerous transformations that the State of Milan underwent during the 18th century had a significant impact on the patronage of the ruling class, which expressed its desire to establish itself within a constantly changing system in various ways. It is therefore difficult, within the kaleidoscope represented by 18th-century Lombard art, to identify clear and coherent lines of investigation, useful – if not for presenting a unified scenario – at least for clearing the field of certain historiographical prejudices. In the construction of pleasure villas and in the pictorial decoration of city residences, Lombard noble families expressed the ability to assert the prerogatives and autonomy acquired during the period of Spanish rule, still evident in the mid-18th century. A testament to a collective portrait of the Lombard aristocracy and its members remains the project of the Ville di delizia, o siano, Palagi camparecci nello stato di Milano, engraved and printed by Marc-Antonio Dal Re, published in two separate editions in 1726 and 1743. In the following decades, the celebration of the aristocracy’s wealth and privilege was accompanied by the emergence of new cursus honorum, based on the assumption of public office within the state administration. In all cases, the common denominator can be recognized in the language of magnificence.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
