Book review of "Designed to Impress. Guido Mazenta’s Plans for the Entry of Gregoria Maximiliana of Austria into Milan (1597)"

Congratulations to Janis Bell, Stefano Bruzzese, Silvio Leydi, Elisa Ruiz Garcia, the authors of the book "Designed to Impress. Guido Mazenta’s Plans for the Entry of Gregoria Maximiliana of Austria into Milan (1597)," for receiving a review from Giovanni Mazzaferro, appearing in the 'Letteratura artistica':

La Biblioteca Nazionale di Spagna a Madrid conserva un manoscritto (segnato MS 2908) che fino a oggi è stato oggetto di scarsa attenzione. Si tratta del programma iconografico che nel 1597 il nobile milanese Guido Mazenta (1561? – 1613) presentò al governatore spagnolo della città meneghina per l’imminente passaggio in città (e conseguente entrata trionfale) di Gregoria Massimiliana (1581-1597), cugina dell’imperatore Rodolfo II (appartenente al ramo austriaco degli Asburgo). [...] , il punto forte del libro è quello di partire da un documento per sviluppare un contesto, indagando in più direzioni. [...]

[Extract from book review (Italian) at 'Letteratura artistica.' Reviewer: Giovanni Mazzaferro. January 2024. https://letteraturaartistica.blogspot.com/2024/01/guido-mazenta.html]

Find more about the book here: "Designed to Impress: Guido Mazenta’s Plans for the Entry of Gregoria Maximiliana of Austria into Milan (1597)"

Soon after celebrating the appointment of Federico Borromeo to Archbishop, the city of Milan began planning elaborate festivities to celebrate the betrothal of Prince Philip, future King of Spain, to the niece of the Holy Roman Emperor, Gregoria Maximiliana. She was scheduled to travel through Milan in 1597 on her journey to Spain. Guido Mazenta, a private citizen, planned for the erection of five triumphal arches in strategic locations throughout the city. This volume includes studies of the author and his previously unrecognized importance in turn-of-the-century Milan, presents an analysis and transcription of his illustrated manuscript for the program (Biblioteca Nacional Ms. 2908), and fully examines the scope and expenses of the festivities in honor of royal visitors in the second half of the sixteenth century. Although Gregoria died before the planned celebration, many of its features were transferred to the entry in 1598 of her sister, Margherita, who married Philip soon after he ascended to the throne as Philip III of Spain. This celebration left a permanent mark on the city of Milan through the construction of the Porta Romana.

Scholars of early modern European art and history will find a richness of new archival documentation, particularly those interested in the history of book and art collecting and in economic history. The essays in this volume bring to light the important role of a private citizen whose reputation was later deliberately obscured to cover the ignominy that led to his exile from Milan. Janis Bell and Stefano Bruzzese discuss the author and his activities, Silvio Leydi discusses the many elaborate festivities conducted for royal visitors to the city of Milan during the Hapsburg reign and the expenses involved in hosting their courts, and Elisa Ruiz Garcia presents a detailed examination of the program and the sources used by the author.

Title Designed to Impress: Guido Mazenta’s Plans for the Entry of Gregoria Maximiliana of Austria into Milan (1597) [Hardback]
Subtitle With an edition of Madrid MS 2908
Edition 1st
ISBN 978-1-64889-622-4
Published in May 2023