Il ciclo profano duecentesco del Broletto di Milano: novità e considerazioni

The essay is dedicated to the most important fresco cycle of the first half of the thirteenth century (datable to 1240), still visible in Milan: the decoration of the major hall in the civic building of Broletto. The frieze, divided into squares, depicts a group of soldiers of the city militia, divided by territorial areas of origin, identified by the cartouches. The thirty-four surviving squares relate to the area of belonging to the soldiers from the medium-high Brianza. It is probable that the client or at least the inspirer of the cycle was Pagano Della Torre († 1241), to enhance the popular political faction (the Credenza) led by him. On the stylistic level, the decoration can be attributed to a shop close to the Maestro di Bonamico Taverna.