I wanted to see the Brera, which has been run for the last three years by James Bradburne, brought in as part of a cohort of international directors to modernise Italian museum practice.

The Brera was established on 15 August 1809 by Napoleon, no less, as a way of centralising the art treasures of northern Italy in a single location.   He presides:-

James likes a slightly theatrical style of display with ample labels, more than is normal, written conversationally.

Ambrogio Lorenzetti:-

Two heavenly Bellinis. A Pieta (1460):-

And a Madonna and Child:-

And a late Mantegna (c.1485):-

Signorelli’s Flagellation (1482-5):-

More wonderful Crivelli’s, including an altarpiece from Camerino with a view of the city:-

And the broken pod of a broad bean:-