(Vienna 1821–1914) View of Milan Cathedral with the Privilegata Altar, the high altar by Pellegrino Tibaldi in the background, signed and dated Franz Alt 1846, oil on canvas, laid down on panel, 65.5 x 48.5 cm, framed, (Rei)

Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527/1532–1592/1596) , actually Pellegrino di Tibaldo de’ Pellegrini, was a painter and architect. In 1564 Tibaldi travelled to Milan and was appointed chief engineer of the cathedral in 1567. Carlo Borromeo, Archibishop of Milan, instructed his favourite engineer, Pellegrino Tibaldi, to create several structures including the west facade, the high altar, several side altars and the choir stalls. The round, 10m high tabernacle of the high altar takes the form of a small temple behind the mensa. From a bronze pedestal, decorated with reliefs, rise eight fluted columns with Corinthian capitals, supporting a richly decorated architrave above which a delicate cupola vaults, over which towers the triumphal redeemer. Eight angels bearing instruments of suffering stand on each of the eight columns, with eight seraphim shown praying in a sculpted wreath of foliage on the broad cornice of the architrave. Within this richly decorated little temple, four life-sized angels, kneeling on clouds, hold up the beautifully ornamented ciborium with their hands. Pellegrino Tibaldi is one of the most important artists of the second half of the 16th century, respected both as a painter and an architect and regarded as Michelangelo’s heir. Tibaldi’s comprehensive architectural works are valued for being both strongly monumental and yet classically harmonious. (Cf. Georg Fell S. J., Der Mailänder Dom und seine Sehenswürdigkeiten, Regensburg- Rome - New York - Cincinnati 1910, p.8, 50ff.; de. wikipedia. org/wiki/ Pellegrino_Tibaldi; www. pellegrino-tibaldi. de; 13.7.2010)