The Museum of Fine Arts

A luminous square, finely crafted gates, majestic fountains, and a central statue dedicated to its founder—Place Stanislas is a perfect blend of all these elements. Above all, it’s a magnificent example of French classicism, thanks to the seven pavilions that beautifully frame the square. The one before which you’re standing houses the Nancy Museum of Fine Arts, a cultural landmark not only in the city but also on a national level. Like several other museums in France, the Nancy Museum of Fine Arts was founded during the Revolution, following the confiscation of property from the clergy, the nobility who had fled the country, and the Crown. These items, initially estimated at around 400, became national treasures and were first displayed to the public in 1799 at the Visitation convent, which is now the Poincaré High School in Nancy. After moving from one pavilion to another due to space constraints, the museum finally settled at this location at the start of the 20th century. Over the years, the museum’s collection has grown substantially, thanks to numerous Lorraine works sent by the State, purchases made by the municipality, and donations from artists and collectors. As a result, the need for more exhibition space became urgent. In 1936, the building was redesigned and expanded by Jacques and Michel André, sons of Emile André, a renowned architect of the Nancy School. Then, in the early 1990s, a new contemporary wing, designed with transparency and lightness, doubled the museum’s exhibition area—a welcome addition, considering how much the collection had grown. Today, the museum offers a vast European artistic panorama, spanning from the 14th century to the present day. Among the celebrated names featured are Perugino, Manet, Rodin, Delacroix, Modigliani, and Picasso, alongside renowned figures of 20th-century Lorraine art, such as Prouvé, Friant, Cournault, Daum, and Gruber. With so many priceless treasures, the Nancy Museum of Fine Arts is undoubtedly the temple of art and culture in the Grand Est region.