Sforza Legendarium

Leggendario Sforza-Savoia

The famous dukes of the Sforza family have always been considered to be great patrons of art and music. Some of the most famous works of art originating from the Italian Renaissance originate from the court of the Sforza in Milan, as well as numerous world-renowned illuminated manuscripts. An especially beautiful and valuable example is the Leggendario Sforza-Savoia, which was created by Cristoforo de Predis. The work consists of 316 pages with an astonishing wealth of 324 miniatures in luminous colors and decorated with gold. Stories from the New Testament are illustrated along with scenes from everyday life during the Renaissance.

A Codex for the Ruler

The commission for this elegant manuscript was given by Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza. He desired a private prayer and meditation book that could depict scenes from the Bible in an environment that was well known to him. He engaged the world famous book illuminator Cristoforo de Predis. He composed one of the most beautiful manuscripts at the court of the Sforza, and was especially famous for his occupation as the architect of the Milan Cathedral. His experiences in the realm of architecture influenced his skillful book illustrations. For his background he chose landscapes inspired by northern Italy, that transport the modern beholder into the duchy of the Sforza.

A Sensible Attention to Detail

Cristoforo de Predis was deaf from birth. He worked as a miniature painter at the court of the Sforza since 1471. Among others, he composed his magnificent codex de Sphaera, one of the most beautiful astrological books of the Renaissance. It is possible that as a result of his inborn disability, he achieved an exceptional power of observation and attention to details in his surroundings. He rendered the nature, the city in which he lived, and the emotions of his fellow man in a distinctly realistic and colorful fashion.

Luxurious Endowment

The miniatures of the Leggendario are unusually diverse. Some render scenes from the Old Testament. Among them can be found the stories of the Virgin Mary, her parents, her childhood, and up to the Annunciation. This is followed by the life story of Jesus Christ, which, in impressive pictures, ends with the Day of Judgement. The biblical stories are nonetheless found in the gentle landscape of the Po Valley and in Italian streets, squares, or in simple rooms. Additionally, numerous details of daily life in the Renaissance are illustrated. The experienced painter observed numerous particulars such as marble, wood, or brick in his architectural depictions. He paid attention to the relatively young central perspective and worked intensively with light effects. He refined powerful, luminous colors with the delicate application of gold leaf and combined concrete reality with his imagination in a fantastic style.