Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper, Art museum in Quimper, France.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper occupies a neoclassical building on Quimper's main square, facing the cathedral and adjoining the Hôtel de Ville. Its pale stone facade has a rusticated ground floor with three round-arched openings and an upper level of four arched windows between pilasters, topped by a balustrade. Behind this intact 19th-century front, Jean-Paul Philippon's 1993 renovation created transparent, modern interiors where 700 works are shown permanently.
The museum opened in 1872 following Jean-Marie de Silguy's bequest of 1200 paintings and 2000 drawings to the city. Architect Joseph Bigot designed the building to house this significant collection.
The collections feature works by Breton artists and paintings from the Pont-Aven school, reflecting the region's strong artistic movements. You can see how these works shaped the area's artistic identity.
The museum is located opposite the Cathedral and easy to find, with entrances facing the street. The rooms are arranged logically, so you can navigate on your own or join guided tours.
The museum closed to the public on 1 October 2024 for major energy and gallery renovation work, with reopening planned for late autumn 2026. Its 1993 interior redesign by architect Jean-Paul Philippon, carried out under director André Cariou, sits behind the unchanged 19th-century facade.
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