Museum of Permanence

The Museum of the Permanente in Milan, officially known as the Society for Fine Arts and Permanent Exhibition, is one of the oldest and most prestigious cultural institutions in the city. Founded in 1883 by a group of artists and intellectuals with the aim of promoting and supporting contemporary art, the museum represents a reference point for Milanese and Italian artistic culture. The headquarters of the Permanente is located in via Filippo Turati, in an elegant neoclassical building designed by architect Luca Beltrami and inaugurated in 1886. This building, with its imposing facade and spacious and bright exhibition halls, was conceived to host temporary exhibitions and permanent collections, offering an ideal space for the display of artworks. Since its foundation, the Permanente has played a crucial role in the Milanese art scene, hosting significant exhibitions and promoting emerging artists. Over the years, the museum has presented works by artists such as Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Giorgio de Chirico, and Lucio Fontana, becoming a meeting place and cultural exchange for artists, critics, and art enthusiasts. One of the most significant events in the history of the Permanente was the organization of the First Triennial Exhibition of Fine Arts in 1891, which attracted artists and visitors from all over Italy and helped consolidate Milan’s role as a leading cultural center. Since then, the Permanente has continued to host important triennial and biennial exhibitions, offering a privileged showcase for new trends in contemporary art. In addition to temporary exhibitions, the Museum of the Permanente has a rich permanent collection ranging from the nineteenth century to the present day. Among the most significant works in the collection are paintings and sculptures by Italian and international artists, offering a comprehensive overview of the major artistic currents of the last two centuries. The collection includes masterpieces of Realism, Futurism, Surrealism, and Arte Povera, testifying to the variety and richness of modern and contemporary art. From an architectural point of view, the Permanente building is a significant example of Milanese neoclassical architecture. The facade is characterized by a portico with Corinthian columns and a pediment decorated with allegorical sculptures, giving the building a majestic and solemn appearance. Inside, the exhibition halls are arranged on multiple levels and offer flexible and modular spaces that can be adapted to the different needs of exhibitions. The history of the Permanente is closely linked to that of Milan and reflects the city’s social, cultural, and political transformations. During World War II, the building suffered serious damage from bombings, but was promptly restored in the post-war period, marking a rebirth of the institution and a renewed commitment to promoting contemporary art. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Permanente was a protagonist in the lively artistic and cultural debate of the time, hosting innovative and experimental exhibitions that helped define the city’s artistic identity. An interesting anecdote concerns the work “Unique Forms of Continuity in Space” by Umberto Boccioni, one of the masterpieces of Italian Futurism. The sculpture, exhibited at the Permanente on several occasions, has become an icon of modern art and perfectly represents the idea of movement and dynamism that characterizes Futurism. Its presence in the museum underlines the importance of the Permanente as a guardian and promoter of artistic avant-gardes.