Oh, no! Not another week that has flown by! (Sorry! Not very original, but I couldn't resist!)...More......
This little gem comes from the façade of the Ca' Granda, a mid-15th century hospital sponsored by the ex-condottiere-then-brand-spanking-new-gotta-make-a-good-impression-on-my-subjects-lord, Francesco Sforza and his born-illegitimate-but-legitimized wife, Bianca Visconti, the only heir of the last Visconti duke of Milan.
The hospital was one of the most advanced of the day, planned by Filarete, a Florentine architect sent to Milan by Francesco's pal, Lorenzo the Magnificent (homely, REALLY homely, guy, but with good taste). The first half of the hospital got started under Filarete, but his snobby attitude got him pushed out of the hospital and eventually out of Milan.
The second, planned, part was added in the first half of the 17th century during the Spanish domination, but the façade was completed purposefully using the original molds, for visual coherence (pretty sensitive, for the day).
The third part, not planned by Filarete, was built during the early 19th century during the Napoleonic era. Not using the original molds...considered oh so fussy by then...but fitting in, nonetheless.
The cute cherub in the upper part of the photo made a good needlepoint design, which you can see on my needlepoint blog: http://arsacupicturaestellae.blogspot.com/2010/11/milan-monday-06-cherub.html
I took this photo on the 26th of September 2010 at 4:45 P.M.
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