Visiting the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille
In Lille, located in the Hauts-de-France region, you will find the second largest fine arts museum in France. Founded in the late 18th century, it was officially designated as a historical monument in 1975.
History
During the French Revolution, a vast number of artworks were seized from the nobility and the clergy. Louis Joseph Watteau, a painter and director of the fine arts academy, proposed that the local government establish a museum for public education. In 1793, approximately twenty confiscated paintings were first displayed at the academy.
Between 1841 and 1875, the collection more than tripled in size, requiring a dedicated building. Géry Legrand, the mayor of Lille, commissioned the construction of a fine arts palace. The project was funded through lottery ticket sales. With a budget of 2.5 million francs (about $450,000 back then), architects Edouard Bérard and Fernand Delmas were tasked with the design. Construction began in 1885 and spanned 7 years. Due to budget shortages, the building was only half finished when it was inaugurated.
Following the theft and damage sustained during the First World War, it was not until 1991 that the museum underwent a major renovation. The project was led by architects Jean-Marc Ibos and Myrto Vitart. The museum reopened in June 1997.
The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille
With 12,000 square meters of exhibition space and the second largest collection of works in the country, this Lille institution is a significant cultural stop.
The collection includes nearly 1,500 paintings, but the museum focuses on more than just high art. It also displays ancient artifacts, seals, and heraldic objects. You will also find 15 relief maps of 18th-century fortified towns, as well as collections of ceramics, sculptures, and drawings.
It is a surprising museum with many facets, where there is always something new to encounter.
If you have some time, I highly recommend visiting this palace. I found the painting collection particularly interesting, with works by Eugène Delacroix, Géricault, Courbet, and Monet. My favorite find remains the discovery of Turner's The Burning of Constantinople. The section dedicated to sculptures also includes a few masterpieces, notably Rodin's Fallen Angel. Not to mention some very beautiful Chinese ceramics.