Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: reviews and practical tips

Visiting the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Dedicated to promoting Canadian and international art, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, founded in the mid-19th century, holds a global reputation.

History

A group of prominent figures including Francis Fulford and William Notman founded the institution to foster a public appreciation for the arts. However, lacking a permanent home, the Art Association of Montreal remained a traveling organization for over 20 years. It was in 1877, following a bequest from Benaiah Gibb, that the association acquired a collection of 72 paintings, 4 bronzes, and a plot of land in Montreal. On May 26, 1879, the Governor General of Canada, Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, inaugurated the first building in Canadian history specifically dedicated to art. It was designed entirely by John William and E.C. Hopkins. Following the gift from Benaiah Gibb, bequests multiplied. In 1909, William John Learmont and his sister Agnes donated more than 130 paintings to the institution, which created a significant space shortage. The museum moved to rue Sherbrooke in December 1912, where the Governor General of Canada inaugurated it before a crowd of 3000 people. In 1949, the museum was renamed the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Two major expansions were completed in 2011 and 2016, funded by private donations and public money.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The museum covers a total of 53,000 m², including 13,000 m² of exhibition space. The collections feature numerous works by famous artists, including paintings by Cézanne, Sisley, Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro among others. The Sculpture Garden, inaugurated in 2004, displays works by Moore, Rodin, Léger, and César. A major artistic institution in Canada.