I have visited this phenomenal art gallery in Milan twice. I could go there a million times, and I would be just as amazed as I was on the first two occasions. While the gallery includes Italian art from the 13^th to 20^th century, some remarkable foreign works are on display in its 38 halls, too. Artists from the Netherlands represented in the gallery include Peter Paul Rubens, Anton van Dyck, Jan de Beer and Jacob Jordaens. The Brera focuses on Venetian and Lombard painting.

The art gallery is situated in a large complex that also houses a stunning library (where I saw an exhibition during my second visit), an observatory, a botanical garden and the Brera Academy of Art. In front of the museum is an equestrian statue of Napoleon by Antonio Canova. While the art academy was established as far back as 1776, the museum was opened in August of 1809. When paintings in Lombardy were confiscated from churches and convents in the early 19^th century, they wound up at the Brera, so many religious works make up the collection. Parts of the art gallery were damaged in bombing raids during 1943, but they were fully reconstructed by 1948.

Some of the most famous paintings in the gallery include “The Lamentation of Christ” by Andrea Mantegna, “The Kiss” by Francesco Hayez, “Finding of the Body of St. Mark” by Tintoretto, “The Last Supper” by Rubens and “Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio – only one of two Caravaggio paintings in Milan. Also on display are the exquisite “The Marriage of the Virgin” by Raphael and “Christ at the Column” by Donato Bramante. I especially liked the paintings by Canaletto and Hayez as well as the 14^th century frescoes. Modern works are exhibited, too. For example, “Enfant gras” by Amedeo Modigliani and “Riot in the Gallery” by Umberto Boccioni take up prominent places in the gallery. The works of Pablo Picasso and Giorgio De Chirico are represented, too.

I was overwhelmed at the beauty and power of the paintings in the Brera. Some of the monumental works just took my breath away. I was moved by all the paintings, each one telling a story.

Tracy A. Burns is a writer, proofreader and editor in Prague.