A few glasses of wine, a candle lit room, and this animated head would make one believe in Satan! MILAN – Musei del Castello Sforzesco – Rendentore Benedicente – Christ in the Act of Blessing, 1510 painted by an unknown Lombard artist This is the very eerie looking head from a devil automaton built in 1600. MILAN – Musei del Castello Sforzesco – Automaton, 1600 The World Trade Center was built with a curtain wall system which contributed to its collapse after a terrorist attack. Although I do not understand the meaning, this skyscraper is considered to be innovative and having added to the ‘language’ of skyscrapers since the structural design forwent the use of the block form using a curtain wall facade instead that carries no structural load and accommodates the sway of a very tall building. Arturo Pirelli hired Ponti to realize his dream. This 32-story skyscraper was built on the location of the 19th-century Pirelli Tire factory – the company’s first factory. The Pirelli Tower (1956) is his most famous. Gio Ponti – the artist – had many talents and worked as an architect, industrial designer, furniture designer, artist, teacher, writer and publisher. I love it and even in a display where it was not central to the eye, it catches one’s attention and draws one in. This exquisite bowl is testament to Ponti’s talent as an artist and decorative arts visionary. MILAN – Musei del Castello Sforzesco – Ceramic bowl, 1925 created by Gio Ponti (1891-1979). This is a brief visual narrative not dedicated to my usual focus – the Madonna. These museums offer a very diverse collection of art and they are worth spending a leisurely day perusing.

These are a few selections from the museums of the Castello Sforzesco. MILAN – Castello Sforzesco, 14 th-century, view looking from the Duomo up via Dante – this wonderful castle was ordered built by Galeazzo II Visconti (1320 – 1378) – ruler of Lombardy and the first official duke of Milan.

Sforza castle devil automaton