Sky Arte series explores heroism in art at Pinacoteca di Brera

The episode of the series 'Musei' airing on Sky Arte on Thursday, January 23, delves into the history and renewal of the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. The museum, whose collections were shaped by Napoleon and whose inauguration he oversaw, is reinterpreted through the lens of heroism in art. The episode highlights the heroic role of director Fernanda Wittgens, who saved artworks during World War II. Masterpieces by Raphael, Piero della Francesca, Mantegna's Dead Christ, and Hayez's The Kiss—emblematic of the Italian Risorgimento—are featured. The narrative also explores Leonardo da Vinci's influence on Lombard painting and the local still-life tradition that influenced the young Caravaggio. Narrated by Fabrizio Bentivoglio, the episode questions the continuity of Brera's model as the 'Louvre of Italy.'