The Assumption of the Virgin

Ambrogio Bergognone, born Ambrogio da Fossano around 1453, was an Italian painter whose work bridged the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods. Though details of his early life remain scarce, it is believed he hailed from Fossano, a town in Piedmont, or possibly a namesake locality near Cremia. By 1481, he was documented in Milan, residing in the parish of San Galdino in Porta Romana, and registered in the painters' guild of the University of Milan. Bergognone's artistry reflects a blend of influences, from the Flemish masters, whose techniques he likely encountered through Ligurian intermediaries, to the innovative approaches of Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante, which he adopted in the late 1480s. His paintings are noted for their serene landscapes and devout religious subjects, characteristics that would influence both Lombard Leonardesques and late Mannerist painters. Among his early works, the 'Cristo in pietà con angeli e un monaco certosino' and the 'Deposizione' stand out for their Flemish-inspired use of light. Bergognone's legacy includes not only his own oeuvre but also the impact he had on his pupils, including his younger brother Bernardino and Bernardino Lanzani of San Colombano al Lambro, who carried forward his artistic vision.