We have come quite often to Nantes, a City that needs to be visited more by all. A wonderful historical city with many monuments to see, many wonderful properties. I was again on my local road warrior mode and as bit not back, decided to give it a refresher to this must to visit City of Nantes, Loire-Atlantique dept 44 of the Pays de la Loire region,in my belle France ; even if old Bretagne! Do read my previous posts on the city as well, For now let me tell you more of the wonderful Arts Museum of Nantes, part II ! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Musée d ‘arts de Nantes or Arts Museum of Nantes, located at 10 Rue Georges Clemenceau was created, like fourteen other provincial museums, by consular decree of September 1, 1801. It is one of the largest museums in the region. The Musée d ‘arts de Nantes is located in the heart of the city center, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral, the Jardin des Plantes and the SNCF train station.
Founded under the Consulate, the Fine Arts Museum received works purchased by the State and deposits from the Central Museum (Louvre Museum). From the beginning of the 19C, it took an important place in French public collections thanks to the purchase by the City of Nantes of the collection of the brothers Pierre and François Cacault. This fund, comprising major works, is subsequently supplemented by several other direct or testamentary donations, and by a purchasing policy supported by the Society of Friends of the Museum of Fine Arts in Nantes (Beaux Arts). Today, there is a collection of works from the Pays de Loire Regional Contemporary Art Fund and the Pompidou Center added to this rich collection.
One of the original features of the collection of ancient art is the relative importance of the collection of Italian primitives, coming mainly from the collection of diplomat François Cacault created from 1785 to 1803, at a time when these works were usually little appreciated by amateurs. The 17C was the period when the richness of the museum’s collection was best expressed. The Italian school remains the most important, with an exceptional set of works of Caravaggio inspiration, illustrating the taste of the Cacault brothers for this painting of a powerful realism. The French Grand Siècle is also well represented. In the field of religious painting, almost all the main trends of the first part of the century are illustrated. Flemish and Dutch schools are well illustrated. The collections of the 18C, less developed, nevertheless keep rare works. Due to the presence of a rich old collection finally presented to the public from 1830, the town decided in 1838 to acquire only contemporary art. The choices fall on the famous artists who exhibit in Nantes after the Parisian Salon. French painting from the 1830s and 1850s enters the museum with two coherent sets of artists representative of the taste of the romantic era. The museum also benefits from numerous State deposits chosen from the acquisitions made at the end of the Official Salons in Paris. In recent years, the collection has been enriched with important works. The main movements of modern art 20C are represented in the collections. The museum’s contemporary collection 21C has been enriched since 2003 by numerous deposits of works from the National Fund for Contemporary Art and new acquisitions. The Arts Museum brings together around 13,500 works on paper such as engravings, drawings and photographs or fabric, from the 15C to the 21C. The 64 albums of the Cacault brothers contain 7,500 old engravings. For the 19C, the cabinet has 3,000 drawings and prints. Modern art is also represented by 3,000 drawings and prints while for contemporary art, there are 350 drawings and as many photographs.
The official Musée d ‘arts de Nantes: https://museedartsdenantes.nantesmetropole.fr/infos-pratiques
The Nantes tourist office on the arts museum of Nantes: https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/places/nantes-arts-museum/
There you go folks, do visit Nantes,and its wonderful monuments. A must to visit while in the city ; see more of the wonderful Arts Museum of Nantes, part II ! Again, hope you enjoy this post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 