Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Fine Arts of Arras was established in 1795 on the basis of revolutionary seizures, settling in 1825 in the buildings of the former Saint Vaast Abbey, founded in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 18th century in a classical style. Destroyed 75% during the First World War in 1915, the museum was restored identically and enriched in 1930 by national depots, including 14 Mays (large religious paintings offered at Notre-Dame de Paris between 1630 and 1707), placed in deposit by the Louvre in 1938. Today, only 7 Mays are exposed.

The museum's collections cover several fields: paintings by Flemish, Dutch, Italian and French schools (with works by Rubens, Delacroix, Corot, or Chassériau), medieval sculptures (angels de Saudemont, transi by Guillaume Lefranchois), and art objects such as porcelain of Arras and Tournai. Among the flagship coins are Giovanni Baglione's series of Nine Muses (1621–1623), initially offered to Marie de Medici, as well as Roman coins from the treasure of Arras discovered in 1922, though not exposed.

The museum is part of an active cultural partnership, such as the exhibition "The Palace of Versailles in 100 masterpieces" (2014–2016), organized with the Palace of Versailles and the Hauts-de-France region. It also welcomes artists in residence via the association "Location" and offers temporary exhibitions. His museum journey highlights local history, notably through the school of pre-impressionist landscapers linked to Camille Corot and Constant Dutilleux, or the legacy of Jules Breton, 19th century Arrage painter.

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