The “Church furnishings” section may, in one respect, be considered the gauge for the refinement, cultural and stylistic variety of form for the Diocesan Museum’s collections, but also for Lombard art from the sixth to the twentieth century.
Lombard goldsmith and plastic arts, particularly in the Diocese of Milan, have always been considered outstanding for the quality of their products: from the time of the Visconti family, Milan’s workshops became an international point of reference. In this aspect, Milan’s great tradition of embroidery in the fifteenth-sixteenth century is proved by the missal cover attributed to the Delfinonis, probably with a design by the painter Aurelio Luini, brought from the Milanese sanctuary of Santa Maria presso San Celso. The three capsellas are also noteworthy (datable sixth- eleventh century), brought from Civate, as are the ewer and basin by Wenzel Jamnitzer, and numerous reliquaries, monstrances and chalices, including several made by leading goldsmiths like Arbuschi or Bellezza. The overwhelming basement area under the Cloister’s third side is dedicated to the display of religious materials found in Diocesan territory, often outright masterpieces designed for liturgical functions. The exhibit criterion is to rotate displays, given that new items are being acquired constantly.