(Credits: George M. Groutas)
Good things come to those who wait, and in the case of Milan’s Brera Modern art gallery, there’s been an excruciating amount of thumb-twiddling going on for over half a century.
The extension of the Pinacoteca di Brera gallery has finally been confirmed to open in December, at long last. Never mind the 50 plus years to have passed since the project was first envisioned, there’s been no less than 39 different Italian governments to have come and gone since planning first begun.
It’s been one setback after another for the Brera Modern in Milan, with the most recent delays being caused by the discovery of asbestos and issues with the air conditioning system. Thankfully, the finish line is finally in sight to draw a definitive close to one of the longest-running sagas in the art world. Or at least, that’s the plan.
Provided there are no more issues to be discovered along the way, the Brera Modern will officially open its doors on December 7th. The grand unveiling event destined to draw the attention of Europe’s highest and mightiest art figures, with the annual gala premiere of La Scala’s opera season coinciding with the much-anticipated debut.
Director Angelo Crespi will have the honours of being the person to finally draw a line under the Brera Modern’s 50-year odyssey from conception to opening day, having only been in the position since February 2024. The government wants to put Italy at the head of the continental cultural pack, and the long-delayed gallery will be a suitable statement of intent.
It was his predecessor James Bradburne who’d made concerted efforts to finish the Brera Modern, describing himself as a “gun for hire” in the art world who’d do whatever it takes to get the job done. Ironically, he was ineligible to stay on having completed two four-year terms as director, which opened the door for his successor to take that honour instead.
First established in 1809, the Brera houses works from a litany of world-renowned and legendary artists including sculptor and architect Antonio Canova, painter Caravaggio, renaissance man Raphael, and romanticist Francesco Hayez, but due to the delays many modern pieces have been kept in storage.
With the addition of the Brera Modern, the institution is hoping to cross half a million visitors annually, which is an entirely attainable goal considering it welcomed 466,709 patrons last year, and the wait is almost over at long, long, long last.
