At the Grenoble Museum of Art, each room reveals a different universe, promising a unique cultural experience. Its new architecture, combining boldness and balance, creates a welcoming space where art and light meet.
Founded in 1798, the museum boasts one of the most impressive collections of works of art in Europe. Its collections of ancient, modern and contemporary art are unique.
Originally located on Place Verdun, in the building now known as the old painting museum, the Grenoble Museum of Art moved to Place de Lavalette on the banks of the Isère in 1994 to modernise. It is a symbolic building for the city, fitting perfectly into the landscape. With its clean lines, large open spaces and bright exhibition rooms, you’ll appreciate everything you’d expect from a modern museum worthy of the name: exhibition rooms, an auditorium, a library, a documentation centre for researchers, a bookshop and also a café-restaurant, the Café Andry.
Access to the 900 works in the museum's permanent collections is free for everyone.
The Grenoble Museum of Art, an exceptional visit to the heart of art
Often cited as a benchmark in the world of painting museums, it is one of the largest and finest Beaux-Arts museums in France (and yes, Paris isn’t the only city), with collections covering the main periods of history from Antiquity to the present day. Created by Louis Joseph Jay, it is one of the finest art collections in France and Europe.
Inside and out, you'll be amazed to discover major works by painters such as Monet, Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Miro and Warhol. Outside, you will be attracted by its architecture and its park, where fifteen 20th-century sculptures stand side by side with medieval remains. The Parc Albert Michallon is home to sculptures by artists of national and international renown, to ensure continuity and a natural extension with the museum’s rooms, which are very widely open through glazed spaces, and which are devoted to sculptures and works of contemporary art.
The Grenoble Museum of Art collections
Having permanent collections covering several periods in the history of art is a specific feature of the Grenoble Museum of Art. In Lyon, for example, the collections are divided into several museums: the Beaux-Arts museum, the Contemporary Art museum etc. Whereas in Grenoble you can explore everything in one place, from Egyptian antiquities to modern art to the art of today. A real journey through the ages!
The ancient art collections
Welcome to a period of great artistic change between the 13th and 18th centuries. Discover the story through the works, which begins with a marvel on wood from the Italian Renaissance: Torriti’s masterpiece Saint Lucia. The major trends that marked the 17th century - Caravaggio, Baroque and Classicism - are also represented. Don’t miss the religious painting by Rubens, which impresses with its size (it’s the largest format in the museum), its colours and its many details.
Modern art at the Grenoble Museum of Art
This is a time of daring and innovation. Here, the focus is on avant-garde movements such as Neo-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism and Futurism. Artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Chagall and their contemporaries broke with convention by exploring figures, objects and science with unprecedented freedom of colour and form.
The major work in this collection is Henri Matisse’s Still Life with Aubergines. But is it a still life or a landscape? Certain elements, such as the floral motif against a dark background, even make it look like a collage? What is certain is that it is a fascinating work...
Contemporary art
This is an era that transgresses the boundaries of art as we've always known it. It was a time of questioning, criticism and diversification. New visual art techniques were emerging, such as photography, new materials were being used, and new art forms were being developed (video art, computer art, etc.). You can admire works by Warhol, Muñoz and Kunellis. In short, this collection will take you on a journey through the arts.
Graphic art
The museum's graphic art collection captivates visitors with its diversity and depth. This collection, rich in remarkable works, is a captivating journey through the eras and techniques of graphic art.
From delicate Japanese prints to classic European etchings, modern lithographs and contemporary drawings, each piece in this collection reflects the creativity and talent of the artists who created it.
Outstanding temporary exhibitions
This museum stands out not only for its collections, but also for the quality of its temporary exhibitions. The museum has often shone with exhibitions that have attracted large numbers of visitors, featuring artists of great renown such as Chagall. But it is also determined to stand out from the crowd and showcase artists, some of them international, who are less well known to the general public.
The museums of Grenoble Alpes
Grenoble Alpes is home to a number of museums, including the French Revolution Museum at the Domaine de Vizille, the Saint-Laurent Archaeological Museum in Grenoble and the Champollion Museum in Vif. All the regional museums and those of the city of Grenoble, such as the Grenoble Museum of Art, are free of charge.
