Milan Museums
The Gallery of Modern Art: this stands in Villa Reale. Here there are works by Hayez, Ranzoni, Cremona, Canova, Segantini and other great artists of the XIX Century. Among the contemporary artists, the most important works are those belonging to Balla, Boccioni, Modigliani, De Chirico, De Pisis and Sironi.
Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery: this has a structure made of iron and glass. The architect Mengoni, who projected it, died falling from the scaffolding on the day of its inauguration.
Municipal Museums: these are inside the Sforza castle. Among the many rich collections there is: the sepulchral monument for Barnabò Visconti, with an equestrian statue by Bonino da Campione; the “Madonna Acefala” (The Acefalous Madonna) by Giovanni Pisano; “Il Gonfalone di Milano” (The Gonfalon of Milan) designed by Meda; the frescoes of the vault and of the walls of “the Asse Hall”, attributed to Leonardo; “Ritratti degli Sforza” (The Portrays of the Sforzas) by Luini and the sculptures by Bambaia; “Pietà Rondanini” by Michelangelo; the frescoes of the XV Century come from the Castle of Roccabianca and illustrates “Le Storie di Griselda” (The Stories of Griselda). Some halls are dedicated to the ceramics with specimens from China, Milan, Urbino and Faenza. Jewels and ivories constitute another section. Finally, there is a very important collection of musical instruments, the Bertarelli collection of popular printings, a collection of Egyptian objects and the series of “The Tapestry of the Months” made on cardboards by Bramantino. In the exceptional picture-gallery there are works by Bellini, Mantegna, Lotto, Tiepolo and especially great Lombard artists such as Foppa.
The Municipal Archaeological Museum: it has some beautiful collections of attic vases withred and black figures, ceramics belonging to the V Century B.C. and some pieces of Classical sculptures.
The Municipal Risorgimento Museum: it is in the Eighteenth-Century Moriggi palace and collects various materials concerning Italian history from XVII Century to the Liberation War.
The Museum of the Cathedral: from 1935 it is in the Royal Palace and gathers very rich collections. Note the Flemish tapestries with scenes of the Passion; “La Disputa dei Dottori” (The Disputation of Doctors) by Tintoretto; “S. Paolo Eremita” (St. Paul the Hermit) attributed to Mantegazza.
The Museum of Milan: it is in Morando Palace and gathers finds concerning the history of the City.
The National Museum of Science and Technics: it was instituted in 1947; its seat is the ancient Monastery of St. Vittore and is entitled to Leonardo da Vinci. It consists of different sections: marine, aeronautics, transports and all the scientific and technical subjects. The section dedicated to Leonardo is very important, but there are also strictly artistic works such as those made by Pellizza da Volpedo.
Poldi Pezzoli Museum: it was first conceived as a private collection and afterwards inherited by the Commune. It collects weapons, frescoes, archaeological finds, tapestries, carpets, goldsmithery, watches, sculptures and paintings, all of remarkable interest.
The Theatrical Museum: it gathers Verdi Collections and others concerning the Scala Theatre.
The Ambrosian Picture-Gallery: it is in a building of the beginning of XVII Century which was built upon the will of the Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who set up there the very rich Ambrosian Library. In this picture-gallery there is: “Canestro di Frutta” (Basket of Fruit) by Caravaggio; “Madonna col Bambino e Angeli” (Our Lady with Her Baby and Angels) by Botticelli; “Maddalena” (Magdalene) by Tiziano and “Ritratto Virile” (Mainly Portait) by Leonardo da Vinci.
The Brera Picture-Gallery: it is in the homonymous palace, which was built according to Ricchino’s project, from 1651 to 1686. At the centre of the courtyard, there is the Monument to Napoleon I, by Canova. This picture-gallery is very rich in masterpieces among which the most remarkable are: the series of frescoes coming from Villa Pelucca, by B. Luini; “Lo Sposalizio della Vergine” (Our Lady’s Wedding) by Raffaello; “La Pala” (The Altar-piece) by Piero della Francesca.
