The Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec is located in Battlefields Park, also known as the Plains of Abraham. Situated on 108 hectares of woodlands, gardens, and green spaces, this city park is a rival throughout the world. Directly behind the Museum, visitors gain a spectacular view of the park and the St. Lawrence River.
The museum is divided into three buildings that cover three different styles and periods of art: the Gérard-Morisset building, the Charles-Baillairgé building, and the Grand Hall. The Gérard-Morisset building is compromised of spectacular Neo-classical architecture. Designed by architect Wilfrid Lacroix, with low reliefs by sculptor Émile Brunet, this building was inaugurated in 1933 and was the sole venue occupied by the Musée until 1991. The Charles-Baillairgé building, designed by Québec architect Charles Baillairgé, housed the Quebec City prison for more than a century. In 1991, it became part of the museum and a number of the prison cells were kept intact to show prison life in the early 1900s. The Grand Hall has transparent glass walls and a vegetation-topped roof. It was built and opened as part of the museum in 1991. As the Museum’s centerpiece, it houses visitor reception facilities and provides access to the other buildings.
Over the years, the Musée has grown drastically in size to encompass over 33,000 works of art and objects from 3,000 artists that date from the 17th century to the present. It is considered to house the largest and most complete collection of Québec art from its origins to the present.
Aside from the permanent collections it hosts, the Musée also houses temporary exhibits. Exhibitions by international artists are also on display. Whether you fancy exceptional landscapes, sculptures, or lyrical abstractions, The Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec will engross you in their diverse exhibitions.