The Visconti family’s apartment is informed by art, aristocracy, and time immemorial

Milan’s magnificent history cannot be considered without mentioning the house of Visconti. The family rose to power in the early 13th century, ruling the Italian capital of fashion and design for almost 200 years. The name continues to command respect today, propagated by the likes of celebrated film director Luchino Visconti and jewellery designer Osanna Visconti di Modrone. Famed for her distinctive, dramatic pieces, Osanna’s creativity isn’t confined to beautiful baubles. Just one look inside her family abode – situated a few steps from the Duomo in the heart of the city’s historic centre – shows that her talents are equally weighted in furniture and interior design.

The sober facade of the 16th-century Renaissance building that houses the apartment occupied by Osanna, her husband (gallerist Giangalleazo Visconti) and their daughter Madina (a fellow jewellery designer) reveals little about the treasures that lie within. The original frescoed ceilings and walls that bear the patina of passing time pay homage to the home’s rich heritage, while a monumental collection of modern art and furniture from Osanna’s own assemblage, as well as key pieces from prominent Italian designers of the 1950s and ’60s, provide counterpoints to the understated elegance of the setting.

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Pieces by American video artist Bill Viola, French Fluxus figure Ben Vautier and prominent British artist Damien Hirst add a vogueish touch to the original centuries-old structure.

Osanna shares her ground-floor studio with Madina (pictured), who has made her own name through striking, feminine designs that celebrate nature’s raw beauty in much the same way as her mother’s creations.

A sculpture by Jedd Novatt in the courtyard.

An Anish Kapoor mirror and large-scale painting by Aaron Young dominate the living room, which is an excercise in combining classic and contemporary.

Raw and unpolished – a sort of anti-white cube – the walls provide the framework for the family’s art, lending atmosphere and expression to each room.

The dining room unites Chinese and French influences, complete with a spectacular statement sculpture suspended from the ceiling.

Antique appointments intermingle with mid-century modern pieces, items from Osanna's collection and contemporary art throughout the family's abode.

Surrounded by art, artefacts, talismans, tchotchkes and a legacy of aestheticism, it’s easy to envisage where the gifted family's inspiration originates.

Photography: Fabrizio Cicconi | Living Inside

Additional text: Mercedes Hutton

Production: Chiara dal Canto | Living Inside