Funerary effigies of Ludovico Sforza (Ludovico il Moro) and Beatrice d’Este

Cristoforo Solari, Carlo Campi (cast maker)
  • Thumbnail image of the artwork
  • Thumbnail image of the artwork
  • Thumbnail image of the artwork
  • Thumbnail image of the artwork
Artist
Cristoforo Solari
Milánó 1468 körül – 1524 Milánó

Carlo Campi
(cast maker)
Milánó
Dated
1497—1499 (original), 1908 (cast)
Medium
plaster cast
Dimensions
116 × 155 × 220 cm
Inv.no.
Rg.147
Department
Sculpture
Current Location of the Original Artwork
Italy, Pavia, Certosa di Pavia

In 1497, the Milanese sculptor known as Il Gobbo, or the Hunchback of Milan, was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza (1452—1508), Duke of Milan, to carve a funerary monument for his wife, Beatrice d’Este (1475—1497), who had died at a young age, and for himself. The sculptor worked on the monument, which was intended for the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan but was moved to the Certosa in Pavia in 1564 until Ludovico’s fall from power in 1499. The work was never completed. Only the cover was made, decorated with life-size recumbent figures of the deceased couple in ornate contemporary costumes.