The Gallery of Modern Art -Milan is the greatest collection of 19th century artworks and is located in the first two floors of the Royal Palace of Milan, whose visit is worth as much as the works, for the beauty and for the history that it represents, across the history and evolution of the city. Villa Belgiojoso has been built on a project by Leopoldo Pollack between 1790 and 1796 as the home of the count Lodovico Barbiano of Belgiojoso, who was returning to Milan after an important career in the European diplomacy, serving Austria. The English garden of the Villa, which he wanted, is the first one in Milan and it is highly admired by the contemporary visitors. The palace passed then in French hands, becoming the house of the military governor of Milan, Gioacchino Murat, and sumptuous scenery of many lunches and dance parties.
In 1804 Melzi of Eril purchased the Villa from Belgiojoso’s heirs to give it to Napoleon, during that time it took the name of “Villa Bonaparte." In 1806, after having welcomed illustrious guests as Camillo and Paolina Borghese and Letitia Ramolino, the emperor's mother, the Villa became home of the royal couple Eugene of Beauharnais, Napoleon’s adoptive child, and the princess Amalia of Baviera, who promoted a great decorative intervention in the upper floor.
After the kingdom of Italy was united, the Villa was assigned to the Crown of Italy and it suffered a long period of relative abandonment. It is only thanks to the transfer as a property of the City, in 1920, that it turned into the current Gallery of Modern art.
The exposition starts illustrating themes and characters of the Neoclassicism, among which there are some masterpieces by Canova. Two whole rooms are dedicated to portraits, with particular attention to the works of Hayez . The Romantic period moves through the most important artists (Faruffini, Mosè Bianchi, Induno, Piccio), while there is a monographic room devoted to the Scapigliatura movement. The divisionist moevement is recalled finally in a series of thematic rooms: Segantini, Grubicy, Longoni, up to the paintings with social subjects by Morbelli, Sottocornola and Nomellini. After the section with the masterpieces by Medardo Rosso, the first floor concludes with Previati and Segantini’s symbolist paintings.
The visit continues at the second floor with the Grasso Collection, composed by Italian and foreign masterpieces from the XIV to the XX century and by a nucleus of oriental artworks. Among the exhibited works there are unique pieces by Manet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin. In the end, there is the Vismara Collection, picking up paintings and sculptures belonging to the XX century from the Italian Carrà, De Pisis, Modigliani, Morandi, Sironi to the foreigner Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Vuillard, Rouault, Dufy. Take your time to admire these eternal works, which enrich us so deeply.

GAM - GALLERIA D’ARTE MODERNA
Via Palestro 16
20121 Milano
Telefono 02 884.459.47