The permanent collections of the museum

Photo de la Salle des États du monastère royal de Brou

The Royal Monastery of Brou is also a museum of Fine Arts. Since its installation in Brou in 1922, it is a journey of 6000 square meters that opens to you! Over the 434 works on display, you will travel through several centuries of art history, from the Middle Ages to the present day!

WORKS FROM THE TIME OF MARGUERITE OF AUSTRIA

From the church, the tour leads you to the apartments of Margaret of Austria A space of interpretation dedicated to the figure of the founder. It is in the old ceremonial hall that we discover the first works of the museum, entirely remodeled in 2019 and enriched every year.

Contemporary to Marguerite of Austria, the collection ofFlemish art from the ^15th and ^16th centuries is one of the most important in southeastern France. You will notice the refinement and meticulousness of the paintings, some of which are reminiscent of those in the church at Brou.

Among the paintings, sculptures and art objects from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, there are two works by Bernard van Orley: the portraits of Marguerite of Austria and of Charles V, her nephew.

Portrait de Charles Quint, de Bernard van Orley (vers 1516), conservé dans les collections du musée des Beaux-Arts
© Hugo Maertens

CROSS 1000 YEARS OF ART!

Photo de la Salle des États du musée des Beaux-Arts et ses collections de l’époque de Marguerite d’Autriche — Salle des États du musée des Beaux-Arts et ses collections de l’époque de Marguerite d’Autriche
© Marine Bontemps

Photo de la Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts dédiée à l’orientalisme — Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts dédiée à l’orientalisme
© Serge Buathier

Photo de la Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts abritant le fond d’art contemporain — Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts abritant le fond d’art contemporain
© Marine Bontemps

Photo d'une visiteuse écoutant un conte audio pour enfant imaginé autour de la sculpture de saint Crépin, dans l’ancien réfectoire, salle de sculpture ancienne — A l’écoute, un conte audio pour enfant imaginé autour de la sculpture de saint Crépin, dans l’ancien réfectoire, salle de sculpture ancienne
© Marine Bontemps

Photo de la Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts dédiée à l’art troubadour — Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts dédiée à l’art troubadour
© Marine Bontemps

Photo de la Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts abritant les collections de paysages — Salle du musée des Beaux-Arts abritant les collections de paysages
© Franck Paubel

Photo de la maquette tactile représentant en relief le tableau de la Sainte Famille peint par Jan de Beer — Maquette tactile représentant en relief le tableau de la Sainte Famille peint par Jan de Beer
© Marine Bontemps

Photo de l'espace « Quel chantier ! » une salle ludique pour découvrir les savoir-faire des bâtisseurs — « Quel chantier ! » une salle ludique pour découvrir les savoir-faire des bâtisseurs
© Laurence Danière

In the rooms of the Fine Arts Museum, you will discover how ^19th century artists reinvented the past, with one of thetroubadour art collections the richest in France. Inspired by the daily life of the Middle Ages, these painters illustrate scenes in a fantastical and sentimental way, sometimes taking a few liberties with history!

You will also see the splendid works of Gustave Doré including his impressive vision of Dante's Inferno which has marked many generations! During the visit, rediscover the paintings, sculptures and art objects of all the European schools of the ^17th, ^18th and ^19th centuries: Gustave Moreau, Jean-François Millet, Antoine Chintreuil, Adolphe Appian or Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. Jules Migonney will take you on a journey to a dreamed Orient. You will also find the Montmartre trio who travelled through the Ain, Maurice Utrillo, Suzanne Valadon and André Utter, as well as the pioneer artist Émilie Charmy.

Take a leap in time! Among the painters of the ^20th century, you will find Pierre Soulages, Olivier Debré, Simon Hantaï, Joan Mitchell, Geneviève Asse, Jean Degottex or Judit Reigl. In the prior's apartments, enter an ^18th century interior, furnished and decorated with works by Largillière, Pécheux or Lancret, Meillonnas earthenware andclocks from the royal manufacture in Bourg.

From the^3rd cloister, access the space Which building site a playful space about the construction of the monastery and the trades of the builders. Finally, let yourself be caught up in thespirit of the place with the sculptures of Ulrich Rückriem, Jérémy Gobé and Richard Serra presented in the cloisters. the cloisters.

A NEW SPACE: THE ANCIENT SCULPTURE ROOM

In the former refectory of the monks, the room of ancient sculpture has a new look! Opened in October 2022, browse through this exceptional collection of sculptures, from the ^11th to the ^16th century. Taken out of the reserves or restored, they reveal piety and daily life in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Photo de la salle des sculptures anciennes du musée des Beaux-Arts réaménagée en 2022 — Les chapiteaux de Dagneux, présentés dans la salle des sculptures anciennes du musée des Beaux-Arts réaménagée en 2022
© Carine Monfray

AN INTERACTIVE AND LIVING MUSEUM

Love, death, cultural circulation, the visibility of women in art and society, whether they are heroines or artists... During its temporary exhibitions which punctuate the seasons, the Royal Monastery of Brou explores social issues and allows visitors to discover artists, past or present.

Each time, numerous mediation tools accompany you to understand everything about the Royal Monastery of Brou and the treasures it houses. Historical panels, commented labels, booklet-games for families, treasure hunts, tablets and interactive mapping, films or touch models, sound terminal for fantasy stories, game trail with QR codes ... It's your turn to play !

Photo d'une Famille découvrant l’exposition temporaire « Œuvres déconfinées / Poèmes en liberté ! » en 2020 — Visiteurs découvrant l’exposition temporaire « Œuvres déconfinées / Poèmes en liberté ! » en 2020
© Laurence Danière

A TRIP TO THE TIME OF THE MONKS

Installed in the former cells of the monks' dormitory, the museum preserves the traces of the presence of its former occupants. Thanks to the cell of a monk or the chapter house, you will discover during your visit the religious function that the monument occupied during many centuries and the daily life of the monks who lived there.

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