The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum: a house museum in the centre of Milan

THE BAGATTI VALSECCHI MUSEUM: A HOUSE MUSEUM IN THE CENTRE OF MILAN

The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum. Some time ago I was in Milan, walking along via Montenapoleone at a fast pace, in order to reach the subway stop, because I had an appointment. I had walked along this street dozens of times, but on that occasion I noticed a sign inviting me to turn into via Gesù to reach the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum.
The name of the museum wasn’t new to me, but I only remembered that I had seen a leaflet, but I didn’t know that the museum was located in the heart of the city.

After my appointment, I came back and, as I had enough time, I visited the museum, and I fell in love with it.

When I entered I couldn’t believe my own eyes, and it was impossible to me that I didn’t know this extraordinary place.
Moreover, on that occasion the museum hosted a curious exhibition dedicated to Giampiero Boldino, which I later described in a post.
Now that I’ve discovered it, I will make you discover this marvel.

The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is a house museum hosting art collections of the 15^th and the 16^th century collected by the Bagatti Valsecchi brothers at the end of the 19^th century.
It is not only a dwelling but also a container that contains a collection of furnishings and works of art that make it a unique place, allowing the visitors to make a travel through time from Renaissance to the 19^th century.

THE BAGATTI VALSECCHI BROTHERS

Fausto and Giuseppe were two brothers whose family belonged to the aristocracy of Milan. They carried out a project that was aimed at building a house to live in, but inspired by Renaissance princely homes.
The two brothers were involved firsthand in the project and planned and studied in details each element, hiring craftsmen and artists.
The result is an array of decorations and precious art objects that integrate themselves perfectly and co-exist side by side in an amazing stylistic unity.

Don’t think that these eccentric brothers lived out of the world. Actually, they participated in the cultural climate and in the social life of Milan of the 19^th century, showing interest in art, architecture and technology.
For example, in the bathroom of the house you can find the search for beauty with Latin inscriptions engraved onto marble, but also the search for then-modern comforts with a sanitary system fitted with hot and cold running water, that was a particularly avant-garde feature for the end of the 19^th century.
In addition, the Bagatti Valsecchi residence was one of the first dwellings in Milan that was provided with electricity.

THE BAGATTI VALSECCHI MUSEUM

The current outfitting of the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum respects the original set-up planned by Fausto and Giuseppe at the end of the 19^th century.
Therefore, when you go through the rooms of the museum you will admire not only works of art, but also you will able to understand the basic idea of the project conceived by the two brothers, that consisted of creating an harmonious style among Renaissance elements and the 19^th –century furnishings.
Each corner of the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum recalls and draws inspiration from decorations you can see in Milan.

For example, the library was inspired by the chapter house room of the Church of Santa Maria della Passione in Milan; the fireplace decorated with angels playing musical instruments is a copy of a painting housed in the Pinacoteca di Brera (Brera Art Gallery); tapestries draw inspiration from the Renaissance decorative motifs; the work “Santa Giustina” (“Saint Justine”) by Giovanni Bellini (around 1470).

AN EVENT TO VISIT THE BAGATTI VALSECCHI MUSEUM IN MILAN

On September 9^th 2016 we shall visit together the rooms of the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum thanks to the collaboration between the ART post Blog and the Museum.
Thanks to this event we will know each other and we will able to admire this place in a special way, and discover something more about its history.