Nancy Nancy, the temporary residence of a king without a kingdom, Stanislas Leszczynski, later to become Duke of Lorraine, is paradoxically the oldest and most typical example of a modern capital where an enlightened monarch proved to be sensitive to the needs of the public. Built between 1752 and 1756 this was a carefully conceived project that succeeded in creating a capital that not only enhanced the sovereign's prestige but was also functional. |
Place Stanislas Considered the most beautiful royal square in Europe and high point of Nancy’s outstanding collection of 18th century monuments, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the city of Nancy is known all over the world thanks to Place Stanislas. A magnificent example of Classical French architecture, built by Emmanuel Héré, it is surrounded by the wrought-iron worker Jean Lamour’s finely worked railings with gold highlights. The Square’s majestic fountains are by Barthélemy Guibal. Famous buildings surrounding the square include the City Hall, the Theatre-Opera House, the Fine Arts Museum... |
The Museum of Fine Arts or le Musée de Beaux-Arts was created in 1793 and is housed in one of the striking 18th century buildings in Place Stanislas. The museum’s walls are a witness to the architectural and urban development of Nancy. The restoration of 15th to 17th century fortifications in the basement of the museum has firmed its link between the old and new towns or indeed between the former Dukedom of Lorraine and modern Nancy. Development became necessary due to the increasing size of the collections. This led to an important extension in 1999 entailing a complete restructure of the museum in order to cater for young and adult visitors alike. |
Collections On display are works representing every European school of art, spanning a period from the 14th to the 21st century. The museum’s impressive painting collections include a series of works by Pérugin, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Rubens, Delacroix, Monet, Modigliani, Dufy, Picasso, etc.… You are also assured to see the creations of both contemporary French and foreign artists. Visitors must not forget to admire works by famous Lorraine painters Claude le Lorrain, Emile Friant, Victor Pouvé, Etienne Cournault, Jules Bastien Lepage … The collection also features sculptures by Rodin, Maillol, Zadkine, César, Dietman … The Print Room exhibits periodically works taken from its rich collection of sketches, prints and engravings by artists such as Callot and Grandville. Finally, an original scenographic presentation of the Daum crystal collection allows visitors to explore 100 years of Nancy’s well-known glasswork’s production. |