DescriVedendo Brera

DescriVing Brera’s masterpieces is one of the first tools that the Pinacoteca welcomes in order to reduce perceptual barriers.

What is
This is a slow and gradual discovery tour of the collection’s best-known works, in which each painting is illustrated by an accurate morphological description, followed by a brief art historical explanation.

What is morphological description
A detailed account, of what is depicted in the paintings, done through words.

Who it is for
To all visitors. The morphological descriptions are not only intended to be of assistance to those with impaired vision, but to enable each individual to experience a more conscious assimilation of the artwork (slow art).

How morphological descriptions are processed
The morphological descriptions are collaboratively developed by the Pinacoteca’s Educational Department with the help of the non-profit National Association of the Undersighted (ANS).
Underlying the descriptions are the guidelines of DescriVedendo, a research project conceived by Marco Boneschi and sponsored by the ANS.

Each description in DescriVedendo i Capolavori di Brera is developed according to a procedure that involves several drafts and the evaluation of each one by volunteer validators.
Only upon reaching a text quality that meets predetermined parameters of accuracy and clarity is the description certified DescriVedendo.

How you can enjoy DescriVedendo‘s masterpieces.
In two ways:
Autonomously: you will find all DescriVedendo descriptions, which will progressively be made, in text and audio format, on this page and on the pages dedicated to the works described in the online collection section.

Or by following an in-depth DescriVedendo conducted by the Pinacoteca’s Educational Services. To book, look at the dates of the appointments on the calendar.
And in other forms that you will indicate useful and that it will be possible for us to make available to you.

How much does it cost
This proposal is free of charge and the guided tours, scheduled in the Brera si Racconta offer, are included in the cost of the museum entrance fee.

In how many languages is it available
At the moment the guide is available in Italian; soon there will be an English version as well.

Who made this project possible
Descriptions of the paintings.
Hayez’s The Kiss, Andrea Mantegna’s The Dead Christ and Raphael’s The Marriage of the Virgin are supported by Lions Clubs International Milano Borromeo and Milano Duomo.
Tintoretto’s The Finding of the Body of St. Mark by Lions Club International Milano alla Scala.
The Montefeltro Altarpiece by Piero della Francesca from Lions Club International Milano Host.
The description of Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus was supported by Diadromes, paths without boundaries.
The description of the painting Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well by Annibale Carracci is a gift from the Associazione Nazionale Subvedenti onlus, which also edited it.
For the production of the audios in Italian, we thank Gianfranco Ferradini, of Lions Club International, who provided his voice free of charge.