Museo Bagatti Valsecchi
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ROOM 4

The library, planned to offer an ambiance well-suited for study and concentration, is furnished with built-in wooden cabinets. The room’s pictorial decoration, realized in 1887 by Luigi Cavenaghi, was inspired by the 16th century frescoes by Bergognone in the chapter house room of Santa Maria della Passione in Milan. A precious pair of globes—one terrestrial, one celestial—datable to 1579 is perched on 19th century pedestals, while the long central table sports antique objects in ivory, little coffers and scientific instruments.

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

OMNIA LABU(N)TUR VIRTUS VIRESCIT

Everything passes away, virtue gets stronger

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

FERENDUM ET SPERAND(U)M

One must endure and hope

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

FERENDUM ET SPERAND(U)M

One must endure and hope

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

IN MEDIO VIRTUS

Everything in moderation (literally: virtue is in the middle)

(A saying present in the works of Aristotle, Horace and Ovid)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

AEQUUS ANIMUS SATIS

(Oh that) the soul (may be) sufficiently serene

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

VIGILANDUM CONIVENDUM

It is necessary to be vigilant and indulgent

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

FALSA PLURIMA VULGUS AMAT

The masses really love false things

(Tibullus, Elegies, III, 3, v.19)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

FAUSTUS DE BAGATTIS FIERI IUSSIT AN(N)O D(OMI)NI MDCCCLXXXVII

Faustus of the Bagatti commissioned (it) in the year of the Lord 1887 (literally: ordered it done)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

CAVENAGUS INV(ENIT) ROGOLINUS PIN(XIT)

Cavenago ideated (it), Rogolino painted (it)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

GLORIA CUIQUE SUA EST

To each his own glory

(Tibullus, Elegies, I, 4, v.77)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

SPES VITAM FOVET

Hope warms life

(Tibullus, Elegies, II, 6, v.19-20)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

HEU FUGACES LABU(N)TUR AN(N)I

Oh, my, how the years flow swiftly

(Horace, Odes, II, 14)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

PAX DE BAGATIS REFICIENDA CUR(AVIT) ROCCATAGLIATA OPUS PERF(ECIT) ANNO D(OMI)NI MCMLVIII

Pasino of the Bagatti saw to the restoration, Roccatagliata finished the work in the year 1958

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

LEONEM NE TO(N)DETO

Let sleeping dogs lie (literally: don’t clip the lion)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

STATERAM NE TRA(N)SILITO

Don’t go beyond (your) limits

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

UMBRAM NE METIARE

Don’t measure shadows

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

IGNEM GLADIO NE FODITO

Don’t feed fire with swords

(Latin proverb cited in the “Lamia” of Poliziano and in the “Adagia” of Erasmus of Rotterdam, as well as being cut into the façade of the Naselli Crispi mansion in Ferrara)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

TEMPUS FACIT EXPERIE(N)TIAM

With time comes experience (literally: time makes experience)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

IN ACTIONE VIRTUS

(There is) virtue in action

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

USUS DISCENDI DOCE(N)DIQ(UE) MAGIST(ER)

Practice makes perfect (in both) learning and teaching (literally: practice is the guide of learning and teaching)

On the upper part of the walls on the left:

NEC SCIRE FAS EST OMNIA

It’s not possible to know everything

(Horace, Odes, IV, 4, v.22)

On the lower part of the bookcases, on the left:

HODIE MIHI CRAS TIBI

Today it’s my turn, tomorrow it’s yours (literally: today to me, tomorrow to you)

(medieval proverb)

On the lower part of the bookcases, on the left

VIRTUS

Virtue

On the lower part of the bookcases, on the left:

RESPICE FINEM

Keep your eye on the goal (literally: look to the goal)

(Petrarch, De remediis, cap.17)

On the upper part of the bookcases, on the right:

LABOR SEMPER AMOR

Work (is) always love

Second pilaster to the left of the bookstand:

BONIS ET VITA ET MORS DULCIS EST

For good (people), both life and death are sweet