Page 111 - RPG's Italian Work Experience

The largest complex that Gothic architecture has ever built in Italy.
It was begun in 1386 under Gian Galeazzo Visconti, but the name

of the architect who imagines it is unknown. In the early years,
masters from Campione, France and Germany took over the
direction of the works. From 400 onwards, Filippino degli Organi,
Solari, Amedeo, then Pellegrini, L. Buzzi, Bassi and C. Buzzi

supervised the works. In 1765-69 the spire surmounted by the
Madonnina was raised, 108.50 m high. Only at the beginning of
1800 was the facade completed and in 1858 the spiers were

completed.

The grandeur of the building, all in marble, stands out for the

upward momentum of the lines that are lost at the top in the spiers
(135 in all), for the animation of the statues (2245) that populate
the sides and the pinnacols. The façade is baroque in the lower

area (built on a project by Pellegrini), but brought back to the
Gothic forms in the upper area. Of the 5 sixteenth-century portals,
4 have modern bronze doors.

The first is by Minerbi and represents the Edict of Constantine; the
second is by Castiglioni with the life of S. Ambrogio, the third is by

Pagliaghi with the life of Maria and the fourth is by Lombardi with
its history of the Municipality of Milan.

The Gallery was built in 1877 by Giuseppe Mengoni and is called
the Salotto by the Milanese. It serves as a connection between

Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala. The gallery has the
shape of a cross and the main arm is 195 m long. The dome which
culminates at 50 m. high is in iron and glass, in the octagon below

the mosaics reproduce Europe, Africa, Asia and America.