Support and patronage: Comune di Milano, Regione Lombardia, MIBAC – Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (for the latter the request for patronage is in progress); Fondazione Bracco (the request for support is in progress)

The Madonna Litta, among the masterpieces of the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, has a Milanese origin. It was in one of the most important 19^th century Milanese private collections, from which it takes its name. At that time, it was the most renowned painting in the collection of the Litta Dukes in their great palace in Corso Magenta in Milan. The Hermitage acquired it from them in 1865.

The Madonna Litta will be exceptionally exhibited in Milan, for the first time since 1990, after almost thirty years, next to another masterpiece taken from a refined composition by Leonardo, the Madonna of the Rose of the Poldi Pezzoli Museum. The latter was painted by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, the best of Leonardo’s followers in Milan In the 19^th century, the Madonna of the Rose was also part of the Litta collection (it was bought by Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli in 1864). The exhibition will be a great occasion to reunite again in Milan after more than 150 years these two extraordinary and fascinating Leonardesque paintings, both representing the Madonna and Child.

On show also some beautiful paintings and drawings by Leonardo and his followers, dating to 1480-1500, when the Master lived and worked in Milan at the court of Ludovico il Moro.