Estimate
€ 3.500 - 4.500
Aggiudicato
Current bid Starting bid
€ 3.500
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At auction on Thursday 25 June 2026 at 15:00
Information
Beautiful 4-page holographic letter by San Carlo Borromeo who signs himself Cardinal of S.ta Prassede, dated Arona 19 October 1584, addressed to Ms. Bernardino Tarugio [Tarugi], 200 x 290 mm., enclosed in an elegant gilded frame with mouldings, from an illustrious provenance: the Racconigi Castle, an important Savoy residence.
Specialist Notes
The long letter is a detailed account of the preparations and travels related to the visit of Count Annibale Altemps to Borromeo, Imperial Count since 1560 and husband of Hortense Borromeo. The cardinal details his travels in the following weeks in order to meet Count Altemps, without upsetting his own plans. Cardinal Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, dedicated the last years of his office to the evangelization of the Swiss valleys, attempting anti-Protestant expansion towards the Cantons, from the Grisons to the neighbouring valleys. He created a branch of the Milanese seminary in Arona, the Helvetic College (1579), in Milan for the Swiss and the Grisons), the college for the Grisons in Ascona (1584), etc. In this letter, using Arona as his base, he organizes trips to Varalle, Canobio, Luino, Valtravaglia, Chiavenna, Valtellina, etc. The letter was written on October 19, 1584: just two weeks later, on November 3, he passed away upon returning from a pastoral visit to Lake Maggiore.
Contact
Condition report
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The department will provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that what Finarte declares with respect to the state of conservation of the objects corresponds only to a qualified opinion and that we are not professional conservators or restorers.
We urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. We always suggest prospective buyers to inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition during the exhibition days as indicated in the catalog.
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