View of the façade

Annibale Fontana was the most distinguished Milanese sculptor in the third quarter of the sixteenth century, and his most distinguished sculptural complex was the façade of Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso. Designed by Galeazzo Alessi and completed in 1572, the façade made provision for a central relief over the main entrance, lateral reliefs over the two doorways at the sides, four figures in superimposed niche at the sides, and four small reliefs in the upper register, as well as for two sibyls on the pediment above the entrance and an Annunciation group above. Beside the lateral doorways were statues of Adam and Eve.

The first sculptor working on the façade was Stoldo di Gino Lorenzi, who delivered Adam in 1575, three years later completed the Annunciation, both redolent of Florentine academism. He also made the central relief of Nativity. Apparently due to differences with Annibale Fontana, with whom he shared the commission, Stoldo returned to Tuscany in 1582, and the other parts of the façade were executed by Annibale Fontane.

Annibale Fontana worked on the façade of Santa Maria dei Miracoli from 1575 to 1587: he made the statues of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah for the lower niches, the two Sibyls on the main portal, the reliefs with the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Presentation in the Temple and the Wedding at Cana, the statue of the prophet Zechariah in the upper niche, two Angels of the fastigium.