The Musee des Beaux-Arts (or the Museum of Fine Arts) in Lyon, France is one of biggest art collections in the country. Housed in the former Abbey of the Ladies of Saint Pierre, this museum provides one with a glimpse of the arts throughout the ages. There are works that are from the time of ancient Egypt and Greece, as well as works from the Medieval Age up until the present.
Indeed, Musee des Beaux-Arts offer an extensive collection for the world to view. There is the antiquities collection, which covers artifacts and art objects from the Egyptian, Cyprian, Grecian, Sumerian and Roman Empires. There are also collections featuring art from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance periods and an odd mix of folk art and crafts from different places. There are also some Byzantine ivories, as well as Etruscan art works. It even has an Islamic Art collection (the first of its kind outside of Paris), along with a collection of Japanese tea ceremony earthenware. On top of these, there are works from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco period as well. This section covers over 3,000 years of history.
The museum also has a massive collection of around 1,800 paintings, mostly by European artists from the 14th century down to the early part of the 20th century. Distinctive styles are represented, as there are examples of 16th century Venetian art, the Italian Quattocento, French painting (from the 17th, 19th and earth 20th centuries), Flemish and Dutch schools of paintings (from the 17th century) and works by Lyonnais paintings. Yes, there are paintings galore! There are works by Tintoretto, Delacroix, Manet, Monet, Picasso, Degas, Gauguin, and other great artists of all time.
Impressionists, modernists, Old Masters share museum space with Etruscan and Greek Art. Plus, there is a walled garden for you to view some of the sculptures in the collection. For sculptures from the 19th and 20th century, proceed to the former Saint-Pierre chapel.
What's more there are exhibitions that also feature the museum's collections of medals, sculpture, graphic arts art objects and coins. All these are displayed in over 7,000 square meters of space, divided into 70 rooms.
Its vast collection has earned it its moniker – Little Louvre. And this is well-earned, as its collection is considered to be the second largest art collection in France, second only to the Louvre Museum in Paris. Also, the fact that it is housed in a former Benedictine convent imbibes it with a special atmosphere of peace, which is further enhanced by the garden and its central fountain.
Remember to visit the museum any day of the week, except Tuesday as the museum is closed on this day. There is also a workshop held every Saturday for those who would like to learn more about fine arts. There are also schedules when visitors are allowed not just to look but also to tough the statues in the collection.
Enjoy the treasures of the world of art – the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, France, enables you to do this with its vast collection of the world's best masterpieces.