Pinacoteca di Brera

The Pinacoteca di Brera was established on the site of a 14th-century monastery belonging to the Humiliati order, which was later granted to the Jesuits. In 1773, following the suppression of the Jesuit order, the palace became the property of the Austrian crown under Empress Maria Theresa. She envisioned the building as a cultural hub, founding the Academy of Fine Arts in 1776 to provide students with a collection of exemplary artworks for study and inspiration. The gallery's collection expanded dramatically during the Napoleonic era in the early 19th century. Napoleon Bonaparte designated Milan as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and transformed the Pinacoteca into a national museum. Unlike the Louvre, which was filled with spoils of war from across Europe, the Brera was primarily stocked with masterpieces confiscated from churches and monasteries throughout northern Italy, making it a definitive repository of Italian religious art. Throughout the 20th century, the museum faced significant challenges, most notably the devastating aerial bombings of 1943 during World War II. After the war, the gallery underwent extensive reconstruction and modernization under the direction of Fernanda Wittgens, the first female director of a major Italian museum. Today, it stands as one of the world's most prestigious art institutions, housing iconic works by Raphael, Mantegna, and Caravaggio within its historic walls.