Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Among the paintings consigned by the French State to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon (founded 1801) between 1803 and 1811 are numerous works from the old Low Countries. The city of Lyons had requested the consigning of Flemish paintings—renowned for their wealth of color—and especially genre scenes and floral still lifes liable to inspire the designers at the city’s silk manufactories.

Today, the museum holds some 200 Flemish and Dutch paintings. Among them are major works by Quinten Massijs, Jan Brueghel (I), Gerard David, Joos van Cleve, Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, Rembrandt, Jacob van Loo, David Teniers (II), Frans Snijders, Abraham van Beijeren, Michiel van Mierevelt, and Jan Davidsz. de Heem.

In addition to these paintings, the museum conserves almost 300 drawings, 33 objets d’art, and seven sculptures of Flemish and Dutch provenance.

Ludmila Virassamynaïken, Chief Curator Old Master Paintings and Sculptures (April 2025)