Pietro Cesare Marani

Pietro Cesare Marani was professor of History of Modern Art at the School of Design of Politecnico di Milano. After graduating in Literature from the University of Milan, he furthered his education at the University of Florence and as a fellow at the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, Florence. In the first phase of his career, he held important positions in the Soprintendenza per i Beni Artistici e Storici (Superintendence for Art and Historic Heritage) in Milan, first as Inspector and then as Director.

He was vice director the Pinacoteca di Brera and co-director of the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper from 1992 to 1999. He is the president of Ente Raccolta Vinciana (founded in 1905) and member of Commissione Nazionale Vinciana, the national committee for the publishing of Leonardo’s drawings and manuscripts (founded in 1903).

He collaborated in the scientific cataloguing of the major museums in Milan and was the curator of the catalogue of paintings in the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum. He published the Catalogue of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings in Public Collections in France (published under the auspices of Commissione Nazionale Vinciana for the publishing of Leoanrdo’s drawings and manuscripts).

He joined Politecnico di Milano in 1998, first as an associate professor and then as a full professor, distinguishing himself for his studies in History of Art and Renaissance Architecture and Museography. He is the author of more than 200 publications translated into many languages on Leonardo da Vinci, Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Bergognone, Bernardino Luini, Bramantino and Italian Renaissance art and architecture in general.

He delivered lectures at the most important Italian and international Universities, Accademia dei Lincei in Rome, the American Academy in Rome in New York and the world's most important museums. He received numerous awards including the 'Armand Hammer Award for excellence in Leonardo's Studies' from the Armand Hammer Center for Leonardo's Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, and in 2014 he was awarded the Ambrogino d'oro prize from the Municipality of Milan. Through his studies and research he has established himself as one of the leading experts in Italy and worldwide on the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Extract from the 2023 nomination statement