Michelino da Besozzo

Michelino Molinari da Besozzo (c. 1370 – c. 1455) was a notable fifteenth century Italian painter and illuminator, who was widely praised for his work.

Leonardo’s work includes notable frescoes that remain in the church of Saint Giovanni a Carbonara in Naples, Italy.

In 1404, Michelino created miniature illuminations for the funeral oration of his patron, Gian Galeazzo Visconti.

[3] The coats of arms serve as a background for a scene of Pietro's eulogy which shows Giangaleazzo's coronation, performed by the Christ Child, who is shown as larger than all other figures in the work.

[3] The genealogy traces the Viscontis back to the marriage of Trojan prince Anchises and the goddess Venus, which was allegedly performed by Jupiter.

[3] This work is similar to art from the Valois court in France, and therefore appealed to the royal focus of the Visconti family, and their desire for dynastic power through marriage.

Luke Painting the Virgin is an illumination from a small Latin prayer book from 1420 which currently resides in the collection of the Morgan Library and Museum.

Michelino's version features St. Luke standing as he works on a gable-topped panel, while in Georgio Vasari's 1565 fresco of the scene that resides in the church of Santissima Annuciata, St. Luke paints a portrait of an other-worldly sitter, who is also captured in Vasari's painting.

[10] This work, made from tempera on wood with raised gold ornament depicts an elderly Joseph presenting a young and timid Virgin with a ring.