Milan Duome Catherdral

Milan's Duomo, with its imposing Gothic architecture, is an iconic symbol of the city. Few buildings turn out to be grandiose both inside and out, and Milan Cathedral is one of them. The Gothic façade, the glorious interior, as well as the roof, are a true work of art.

It is one of the world's largest Gothic cathedrals, located in the heart of the city. It's 515 ft (157 meters) long and 302 ft (92 m) wide. It can house up to 40.000 people. Il Duomo di Milano is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.

The statue portraying Saint Bartholomew was sculpted by Marco d'Agrate in 1562. According to tradition, the apostle Bartholomew preached as far as Armenia, where he brought Christianity in the 1st century before being martyred. The saint is depicted flayed, holding a knife-the instrument of his martyrdom-in one hand and the Gospel in the other. His own skin hangs from his shoulders down over his body and his hands, feet and bearded face with curly hair can be seen amongst the folds. What strikes the viewer is undoubtedly the extraordinary anatomical representation, in which the veins and bundles of muscle fibres are carefully detailed. The depiction of the saint's body clearly expresses the scientific interests of the time and is devoid of any pathos. In the 16th century, the study of anatomy was widespread, not only in the medical field but also amongst artists. It is worth noting that the first treatise on anatomy, Fabrica by Andreas Vesalius, was published in 1543 in Venice and that Da Vinci, at length active in Milan, had dedicated himself to the study of the human body, leaving an important oeuvre of anatomical drawings.
The base bears a later inscription that reads: "NON ME PRAXITELES SED MARC(US) FINXIT AGRATIS," meaning "Praxiteles did not sculpt me, but Marco d'Agrate", comparing the greatness of his work to that of the renowned Attic sculptor. The artist, coming from a family of sculptors, was mainly active in Lombardy during the mid-16th century, with Saint Bartholomew undeniably being his most famous work.
Originally positioned outside the Cathedral, the sculpture was moved inside to the retrochoir in 1664 so as to be better admired. In the early 20th century, it was relocated to where Christ at the Column by Cristoforo Solari now stands. Following recent restoration, it has been returned to its historic location.Read more