The Fine Arts Museum of Lons-le-Saunier, in the Jura, was founded in 1817 by a learned society and enriched over the decades by donations.
First installed at the prefecture, the establishment has been housed since 1857 in a wing of the town hall.
The ground floor is devoted to sculptures and the paintings are presented upstairs. It should also be noted that a space is devoted to temporary exhibitions which are intended to present the museum's collections relating to archeology or the natural sciences (part of the collection being devoted to extra-European ethnography).
As for the sculptures, works by Antoine Etex (1808-1888), François-Rupert Carabin (1862-1921), Max Claudet (1840-1893) and Jean-Joseph Perraud (1819-1876) are visible.). Originally from the region, the latter bequeathed to the museum his studio and his personal collection. The public can thus admire various monumental pieces by Perraud including "Le Drame lyrique", an original plaster cast of the stone group adorning the facade of the Opéra Garnier in Paris.
As for the paintings, paintings by major artists representing the Nordic school, the Italian school or the French school are presented. Mention should be made in particular of paintings by Pieter Breughel the Younger (1564-1637 or 1638), Adriaen Van de Venne (1589-1662), Adam Colonia (1634-1685), Pietro della Vecchia (1605-1678), 'Antonio Triva (1626-1699)… And for the French school, paintings from the 18th century, by Nicolas Bernard Lépicié (1735-1784) and Charles Meynier (1768-1832), and for the 19th century, several works by Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) who was so attached to the region.
In addition to temporary exhibitions, the establishment labeled "Musée de France" programs workshops and conferences. Open everyday save Monday. Price: 1 and 2 euros. Information on +33 3 84 47 64 30.
