Today, the promotion of cultural heritage depends not only on the preservation of works of art, but also on the ability to build networks among institutions, educational institutions, and civil society. This is the vision behind the Grande Brera project, led by Angelo Crespi, an art historian, journalist, and general director of the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Braidense National Library. The project aims to make Brera an increasingly open space, capable of combining preservation, research, education, and public participation, thereby strengthening its role as a leading international museum and cultural hub.
This is the context for the restoration and enhancement project for the statues dedicated to Giuseppe Parini and Cesare Beccaria, supported by the Barbara Berlusconi Foundation. The initiative concerns two works of extraordinary historical and artistic value: the monument to Parini, created in 1838 by Gaetano Matteo Monti, and the monument to Beccaria, sculpted in 1837 by Pompeo Marchesi, both symbols of the Lombard Enlightenment and Milanese cultural history.
The project, carried out by students at the Botticino School of Conservation, combines scientific research, specialized training, and cultural outreach, offering hands-on experience with cultural heritage of public significance. Following preliminary diagnostic analyses, the team will proceed with the controlled cleaning of surfaces, the removal of deposits and altered patinas, the consolidation of fragile materials, and the restoration of stucco work, in accordance with the principles of minimal intervention and planned conservation. The work will be carried out under the supervision of experts from the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Milan Superintendency. Alongside the restoration, a public outreach program is planned, featuring guided tours of the worksites, the production of a short film, and the publication of scientific and educational materials. This initiative demonstrates how heritage preservation can serve as an opportunity for cultural, educational, and social growth.
The Barbara Berlusconi Foundation plays a key role in this initiative, supporting the Pinacoteca through the “Patto per Brera” program, which engages private entities in the institution’s development. Established to promote initiatives with a high social impact, the Foundation operates in the fields of education, youth development, culture, and social inclusion, supporting projects capable of generating value for communities. A focus on the transmission of knowledge and the growth of new generations is one of the hallmarks of its philanthropic work.
“I believe that culture should not only be promoted but also preserved,” said Barbara Berlusconi. “Contributing to the restoration of the works that welcome visitors to the Pinacoteca di Brera means actively participating in the preservation of a heritage that belongs to everyone. This project promotes the preservation of memory and contributes to the development of new skills, involving young students from the restoration program in a project of great civic and cultural value. It is an initiative that looks to the past with respect, but also to the future with responsibility. For the Barbara Berlusconi Foundation, it is an honor to collaborate with the Pinacoteca di Brera in enhancing a place that symbolizes Italian culture.”
“An educational restoration site like this one, made possible thanks to the support of the Barbara Berlusconi Foundation, offers our students a valuable opportunity for both professional and personal growth,” said Martino Troncatti, President of Valore Italia “Working directly on projects of significant historical and artistic value allows them to grapple with the concrete challenges and complexities inherent in restoration. Engaging in a real-world operational setting means immediately immersing themselves in the day-to-day reality of their future profession, gaining a highly valuable and formative experience.”
