A finely cast late-19th-century Milanese bronze relief produced by Porta Ravizza & Co., created during the major restoration phase of Castello Sforzesco. Modelled in a deep 4 cm high relief, the work integrates exacting architectural representation with a sophisticated Renaissance Revival heraldic programme. The plaque remains housed in its original period tiger-oak frame, reflecting the era’s renewed emphasis on Milan’s quattrocento identity.
Inscriptions and Dates:
Motto: POST FATA RESURGO (“After death, I rise again”)
MDCCCLXIII (1863) — Transfer of Castello Sforzesco to the Municipality of Milan
MDCCCXCIV (1894) — Key phase in the restoration campaign
Dimensions
Framed: 36.5 × 27 cm
Relief depth: 4 cm
Frame: Period tiger oak, structurally sound, newly wired for display
Heraldry: Sforza–Visconti Union
The bronze features the quartered ducal arms formed after the Sforza accession:
Visconti Biscione (1st & 4th quarters): Milan’s long-standing dynastic
...emblem.
Sforza Beast (2nd & 3rd quarters): A lion–griffin hybrid symbolizing Sforza military power and court authority.
This heraldic structure commemorates the political consolidation achieved through the marriage of Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti.
Medallic Portraits
Two portrait medallions, rendered in quattrocento style, appear in the lower right:
Francesco I Sforza — Founder of the restored ducal state.
Galeazzo Maria Sforza — Renaissance patron closely associated with the castle’s cultural development.
Historical Context
Castello Sforzesco served for centuries as a seat of power under the Visconti, Sforza, French Valois, Spanish Habsburgs, Austrian administrators, and Napoleonic rule. The present relief synthesizes this lineage through heraldry, architecture, and revivalist ornament.
Artistic Features
Sunburst motif signalling civic and cultural renewal
Renaissance Revival trophies and decorative elements
Accurate architectural depiction of the castle
Signed PORTA RAVIZZA & CO., confirming Milanese foundry origin
Provenance
Long-term Milanese family collection (by descent)
Eastern Shire antiques dealer specialising in Continental bronzes
Authenticated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Exhibited in the Famous Lord Hill Museum Autumn Exhibition, in a section devoted to Italian Renaissance Revival metalwork
Condition
Bronze: Good surface quality, original patina intact, no losses or structural issues.
Frame: Period tiger oak, warm in tone, firm and stable, newly rewired for hanging.
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Internal Reference: 742
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1177505
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 27cm (10.6inches)Width is 36.5cm (14.4inches)Depth is 4cm (1.6inches)
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