2024 - June - Milan - The Pinacoteca di Brera

I couldn't help but smile at the double Napoléon in the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan.

First, he stands in bronze in the courtyard to welcome visitors. He is three meters tall + pedestal. The face is clearly recognizable as that of Napoléon, but the body is a very idealized version of himself. Antonio Canova, the most sought-after sculptor of his time, received the commission from Napoléon himself and created him as an image of Mars, the god of war and peace.

Another version of the work, this time the plaster model, is also located in the Pinacoteca on the first floor. But why is Napoléon still revered here? He was crowned King of Italy in Milan after the conquest of Lombardy, making it the capital. He also 'gifted' the city a (small) Italian Louvre: The Pinacoteca di Brera.

The baroque building existed before and was already equipped by the Habsburgs with a collection of paintings, but Napoléon expanded it with many altarpieces he acquired through the dissolution of monasteries and churches.

In addition, Napoléon should be credited for bringing the ideas of the French Revolution and the Enlightenment to Europe under the French flag. Science, culture, and beauty should be accessible to everyone, including at the Pinacoteca di Brera. Fun fact: The museum was inaugurated on Napoleon's birthday, August 15, 1809.

Now, over 200 years after its opening, it still offers visitors a true artistic delight. I must admit that I have no idea about art of this kind, but I still enjoy taking it all in. The rooms of the Pinacoteca are well-designed and not crowded. At least during our visit, it wasn't crowded either, so we could quietly sit in front of one of the paintings. Large paintings, in particular, invite you to discover all the details.

If you wish, you can even try to sketch the paintings yourself, as there are various sketching spots in the museum. In addition, you can get an audio guide for an extra 5 euros. Even more interesting, two of the paintings have been recreated for tactile exploration.

Therefore, my conclusion is: A visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most important museums in Italy, is always worth it. Here you can easily spend a rainy day or seek coolness on a hot day. The interior of the museum is always well air-conditioned.

You might even have the opportunity to watch restorers at work. We were there on a Sunday, so we missed that. But we saw the paintings behind glass being worked on. They were too large to transport and are now being restored here with great effort.

Oh, I almost forgot, there is also an old library to admire.

And for those who still don't want to spend the 15 euros admission fee for all of this, just enjoy the beautiful courtyard of the Pinacoteca. There stands Napoléon and that won't cost you anything.