Como Cathedral, Sacristy of the Mansionari, 27 June–31 December 2026
Exhibition opening: Saturday, 27 June 2026, 6.30 pm
2026 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli, known as Il Morazzone (Morazzone 1573 – Piacenza 1626), one of the most important painters of the Italian 17th century, celebrated by his contemporaries and by modern critics. Between 1608 and 1613, the artist stayed in Como, where he produced works that left an indelible mark on the history of painting in the Lake Como area.
To pay tribute to Morazzone and his extraordinary legacy, the Diocese of Como and the Como Cathedral Trust, in collaboration with the Municipality of Como, are dedicating an exhibition to the artist from Varese in the place that symbolises his time in the city: the Sacrestia dei Mansionari in the Cathedral, where the extraordinary fresco of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary adorns the vault. In this section dedicated to Morazzone, visitors will also be able to admire the canvases Cain Killing Abel (1609–1610) and The Stigmata of St Francis (1609–1610), which belonged to Abbot Marco Gallio. Visitors will also be able to see the coat of arms of Tolomeo Gallio, painted by a close follower of the artist. In the Cathedral, visitors will also be guided to pause and admire the spectacular Banner of Sant’Abbondio (1608–1609), commissioned in Morazzone by the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament.
Each work on display will be accompanied by a QR code linking to detailed information sheets on a dedicated website (morazzonecomo@altervista.org). By accessing these, visitors will also be able to discover the other works Morazzone painted for Como, including the lunette depicting the Fall of the Rebel Angels, now housed in the Pinacoteca Civica, and the most significant examples of his art in Lombardy and Piedmont. In this way, the exhibition becomes a starting point for journeys of discovery exploring the great Lombard artist.
The exhibition marks a first step towards the future Museo del Duomo and the reopening of the Basilica of San Giacomo to the public following the completion of restoration work.
The Sacrestia dei Mansionari is included in the Cathedral’s paid tour. A single ticket is available for entry to the Cathedral, or a 72-hour combined ticket which also includes entry to the Civic Museums (Pinacoteca and Tempio Voltiano).
