Origins and History of the Museum of the Risorgimento
The Museum of the Risorgimento was established in 1885. Its early history involved several relocations within Milan. The institution was previously located at Milan's Public Gardens before moving to the Rocchetta rooms at Sforza Castle, where it was officially inaugurated on 24 June 1896.
The museum's presence in Sforza Castle was interrupted during the Second World War. Due to wartime bombardment in 1943, the collection was temporarily moved to the estate of Casa Manzoni. This period of displacement was a necessary measure to protect the historical documents and objects from the conflict. Following this era, the museum found a permanent home in 1951. It has been housed inside the Moriggia Palace from that time to the present day.
The Building and its Architecture
The museum is housed within Palazzo Moriggia, an 18th-century structure located in Milan, Italy. Situated behind the Brera area, the palace was designed in 1775 by Giuseppe Piermarini. The building serves as a significant component of the Civic Historical Collections. Its architectural history is tied to the administrative functions of the city, as the palace formerly served as the residence for both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.
The museum occupies the space within this historic palace, which was donated to the City of Milan by the wife of the naturalist Marco De Marchi. The interior layout follows a chronological progression through fifteen rooms. Visitors move through these spaces to observe the historical development of the Italian unification movement. The physical environment of the palace provides the structural context for the various documents and objects held within the institution.
The Collection of Italian Unification
The collection documents the history of Italian unification, spanning from Napoleon's Italian campaign of 1796 to the annexation of Rome in 1870. The permanent exhibition is organized chronologically across fifteen rooms within the Palazzo Moriggia. This arrangement allows for a direct examination of the political and social shifts that defined the era. Among the historical artifacts is the first Italian flag, a significant object in the study of national identity.
The holdings include a variety of paintings, prints, and documents. A dedicated Weapons Room is part of the museum's layout, housing items related to the military conflicts of the period. The collection also contains various relics and insignia, such as the green-and-silver velvet cloak of Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation and the regal insignia associated with his coronation. These objects provide a material context to the historical narratives of the Risorgimento.
- Portrait of Anita Garibaldi, about 1849 - Gerolamo Induno
- The battle of Magenta, 1861 - Gerolamo Induno
- Portrait of Anita Garibaldi, 1845 - Gaetano Gallino
- Giuseppe Garibaldi visiting Alessandro Manzoni on 15 March 1862, 1863 - Sebastiano De Albertis
Masterpieces and Notable Artifacts
Upon entering the courtyard, visitors encounter a bust of Napoleon by Giovan Battista Comolli. The emperor is depicted as the king of Italy, wearing the Iron crown of Italy with his shoulders draped in a toga secured by an imperial eagle medallion. This figure introduces a collection that includes significant regalia from the Napoleonic era, such as the green-and-silver velvet cloak used during Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation and the associated regal insignia.
The museum holds essential relics of the Italian unification movement. Among these is the first Italian tricolour, which was distributed to the soldiers of the Cisalpine troops in 1796. Other significant works include Baldassare Verazzi's Episode from the Five Days. The holdings also feature a portrait of Anita Garibaldi by Gerolamo Induno, painted about 1849, and another portrait of Anita Garibaldi by Gaetano Gallino from about 1845. Sebastiano De Albertis contributed a depiction of Giuseppe Garibaldi visiting Alessandro Manzoni on 15 March 1862, dated about 1863.
