The first female director of a museum in Italy
Fernanda Wittgens, an iconic figure in the
20th-century Italian art scene, was not only a
visionary museum director but also a fearless
woman who courageously opposed the Nazi
regime.
Her influence extended far beyond the walls of the Brera Art
Gallery, where she served as director from 1940 to 1957,
permeating the worlds of art, design and fashion.
Restorations of Brera Art Gallery after World War II (1950)
(Courtesy “Publifoto”)
During the dark period of Nazism, Wittgens did not hesitate to risk her own life to protect artworks and persecuted
individuals. Thanks to her position as director of the Brera Art Gallery, she managed to hide masterpieces by artists
such as Raphael and Titian within the museum’s walls, saving them from the Nazist looting.
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“Flowers at Brera”: fashion shows at the Pinacoteca (1956)
(Courtesy “Laboratorio fotoradiografico della Pinacoteca di Brera”)
(Courtesy “Laboratorio fotoradiografico della Pinacoteca di Brera”)
Poster promoting the evening openings of
the Brera Art Gallery (1955)
(Courtesy “Raccolta Nando Salce”)
(Courtesy “Raccolta Nando Salce”)
Fernanda Wittgens gave impulse to the post-war reconstruction of “Alla Scala” theatre
in Milan and the refurbishment of the “Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Elementary school visits to Brera Art Gallery organized
by Wittgens (1957)
(Courtesy “Laboratorio fotoradiografico della Pinacoteca di Brera”)
(Courtesy “Laboratorio fotoradiografico della Pinacoteca di Brera”)
In addition to her role as a director, Wittgens was also a
prolific writer and art critic. Her writings, infused with deep
knowledge and acute aesthetic sensitivity, greatly influenced
the art critics of her time.
Her figure represents an inspiration for all
those who love beauty and believe in the
transformative power of art.
Each Fernanda tote bag is a unique artisanal work of art, a masterpiece of design that evokes the innovative spirit
and visionary outlook of Fernanda Wittgens.
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