La ‘felice memoria’ di Carlo Borromeo e Pellegrino Tibaldi

After the death of Carlo Borromeo in 1584 and Pellegrino Tibaldi’s decision to accept the commission of King Philip II of Spain for the El Escorial in 1586, new architects were appointed to oversee the Milanese building sites previously under Tibaldi’s supervision. These successors, even during the early years of Federico Borromeo, generally adhered to the plans and decisions established by the original patron and designer. This article aime to examine the “fortune” and authority attributed to Tibaldi in the period between his departure for Spain and the final approval of his design for the façade of Milan Cathedral in 1609, as well as the enduring influence of his ideas after his death. This persistence can be explained by the absence of a clearly recognized successor among Milanese architects, and—above all—by the desire to respect the choices made by Carlo Borromeo, which significantly shaped the early decisions of Cardinal Federico.