Currently undergoing renovation and expansion work, the museum continues to bring its collections to life, particularly those in its rich prints and drawings department, thanks to the invitation from the Salon du dessin

As part of its rehabilitation and expansion work entrusted to the Portuguese firm Aires Mateus, the Museum of Fine Arts of Reims continues to organize exhibitions of its collections despite being closed. Held outside the museum walls in Reims, more broadly across France and abroad, graphic arts along with painting and sculpture serve as ambassadors of its holdings. Before the museum's reopening planned for late 2026, being the guest of honor at the 33rd edition of the Salon du dessin in Paris will help showcase this wealth.

For this special moment in the museum's history and given this wonderful opportunity to be present at the Palais Brongniart, a careful selection has been made to present both exceptional well-known works as well as lesser-known pieces directly tied to the future museum's DNA. This provides a symbolic way to evoke the permanent collection that will be redeployed across more than 3,000 square meters, representing a five-century journey through French and European art, from the Renaissance to Art Deco, including Grand Siècle painting, landscape painting, Le Grand Jeu and surrealism, and the unclassifiable work of Leonard Foujita.

Thus, among the 46 drawings selected for this event will be featured the incredible series of thirteen portraits by Lucas Cranach the Younger, works by Simon Vouet, Charles Le Brun, Robert Nanteuil, Jean-François Millet, Paul Jouve, Jean Goulden, Maurice Henry, Maria-Helena Vieira Da Silva and Leonard Foujita.

Ancient, modern and contemporary art, all these works will be worthy representatives of a collection comprising over 15,000 items, soon to be accessible online on the Reims museums' website.

Jean-François MILLET
Gruchy, 1814 - Barbizon, 1875

Bergère dormant à l’ombre d’un buisson de chênes

circa 1874
Dry pastel and black pencil on slightly textured beige paper with irregular cut edges
67.9 x 94.5 cm

Legacy Jules WARNIER-DAVID, 26/06/1899
Museum of Fine Arts(inv. 899.16.8)

Photo: Christian Devleeschauwer

 

Long known as the "Michelangelo of peasants," this drawing reveals a resolutely modern artist.

A melancholic figure, bathed in marked shadows and light, this sleeping shepherdess commands attention through her sculptural and synthetic monumentality.

The rendering is powerful. Van Gogh, Pissarro, Seurat, Gauguin, Permeke, Dali and more recently Banksy have clearly identified the inventiveness of the compositions by the master of "The Angelus" (Paris, Musée d'Orsay).

All these extraordinary artists have paid tribute to him in their own works.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Reims holds twelve works by Millet which reveal here his talents as a pastelist: a free artistic expression blending poetry and realism.

Musée de Beaux-Arts de Reims

8 Rue Chanzy
51100 Reims
Tél + 33 (0)3 26 35 36 00
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