Right in the heart of Lille, the Palais des Beaux-Arts stands out behind a magnificent fountain with water jets, from which springs Eugène Dodeigne?s famous "Group of Three" sculpture. It houses France's richest collection after that of the Louvre, in a sumptuous setting of characteristic 19th-century architecture.
The collection includes French and European paintings (Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, Delacroix, etc.), sculptures (Rodin, Claudel, Carpeaux, etc.), ceramics and other media, such as an important cabinet of drawings (including 40 sheets by Raphael) and relief plans of local towns fortified by Vauban in the 17th century.
In 1997, the museum underwent renovation work to create a basement, an international temporary exhibition hall, an auditorium, a library and educational workshops.
The collection includes French and European paintings (Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, Delacroix, etc.), sculptures (Rodin, Claudel, Carpeaux, etc.), ceramics and other media, such as an important cabinet of drawings (including 40 sheets by Raphael) and relief plans of local towns fortified by Vauban in the 17th century.
In 1997, the museum underwent renovation work to create a basement, an international temporary exhibition hall, an auditorium, a library and educational workshops.
