For more than two centuries, Brittany has inspired creativity from all walks of life, and today it remains one of the most popular French regions for artists and art aficionados alike. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Henri Matisse fell in love with Brittany’s diverse coastline and wild landscapes, finding great inspiration from the region’s beautiful shores and culture. With its dramatic landscape and deeply-ingrained Breton traditions, Brittany has also been the inspiration for many famous works of art throughout the ages including Paul Gauguin’s Portrait of the Yellow Christ at the Tremolo Chapel in Pont-Aven, and Sérusier’s Landscape at Pouldu. Painters such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Henri Matisse all fell in love with Brittany’s diversity and wild landscape; Picasso perfected his impressionism on the beaches of the Emerald Coast, and Monet immortalised the rocky coast of Belle-Île in nearly forty of his paintings. In all, some 160 artists have been seduced by the charms of Brittany, and their stylistic contributions to the art world are vast. So it is with great excitement that we welcome an art exhibition of some of the greats to Quimper this summer!
Musee de Beaux Arts Art Exhibition in Brittany
The Museum of Fine Arts is playing host to a unique art exhibition in Brittany from 17 June until 2 October; this celebration of self-portraits by the great masters is visiting from the prestigious National Museum, Musée d’Orsay. The town of Quimper is renowned for its impressive historic architecture and makes the perfect backdrop for this exciting art exhibition. Located in front of the Saint Corentin Cathedral in downtown Quimper, the Museum of Fine Arts of Quimper is now reputed as one of the finest museums in France and Brittany. The Museum was founded in 1864 courtesy of a donation from the remarkable collection of paintings and drawings of the Count Jean-Marie de Silguy who wanted to host a museum in Quimper, his beloved hometown. The exhibition (entitled “Self-Portraits of the Musée d’Orsay”) invites visitors to discover some of the world’s most notable artistic icons and to marvel at the collection of nineteenth and early twentieth-century self-portraits. Looking beyond the mirrored reflections of their own faces, the artists involved in this art exhibition question their art and its place in society in this most interesting art exhibition in Brittany which is sure to inspire and enthral anyone looking for some culture this summer.
We’ll hopefully see you there!
The Finer Details
- When? 17th June until 2nd October 2016
- Where? Museum of Fine Arts – 40 Place Saint-Corentin, 29000 Quimper, France
- Contact Details: T 02 98 95 45 20 E musee@quimper.bzh
- Website: www.mbaq.fr
- When Can I Visit? The exhibition is open daily (except Tuesday) from 9:30 am to 12pm and from 14pm to 6pm
- How Much Does It Cost? Full price €5, Concessions €3, Pass’ Quimper € 12, Under-12/unemployed/ art students – FREE!