Musée des Beaux-Arts Antoine Lécuyer
Museum in Saint-Quentin famous for its collection of pastel portraits by Maurice-Quentin de La Tour, housed in a building from the 1930s.
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About the museum
The museum takes its name from Antoine Lécuyer (1793–1878), a banker from Saint-Quentin, who bequeathed his town house to house the studio collection of the pastellist Maurice-Quentin de La Tour, who was born and died in Saint-Quentin. The museum opened in 1886: the pastels were installed in three salons on the first floor, and the ground floor received the art objects bequeathed by the Le Sérurier brothers.
During the First World War, the pastels and much of the art objects were sheltered, but the building was largely destroyed by bombing. It was entirely rebuilt between 1928 and 1931 by the architect Paul Bigot, who drew inspiration from the Pavillon de Hanovre, an 18th-century Parisian building. The new museum was inaugurated in 1932.
The collection of La Tour’s portraits, around a hundred works, is the centrepiece of the visit. It features King Louis XV, the Marquise de Pompadour, tax farmers (fermiers généraux), philosophers, musicians and artists of the Enlightenment. Alongside them, visitors discover Italian, Northern and French paintings from the 17th to the 20th century, sculptures, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, French and European 18th-century faience, ivories and furniture.
The museum is considered the most important fine-arts museum in the Aisne department.
Highlights
- Collection of pastels by Maurice-Quentin de La Tour
- Portraits from the court of Louis XV and the Enlightenment
- French and European 18th-century faience
- Chinese and Japanese porcelain
- Building rebuilt by Paul Bigot in the 1930s
Permanent exhibitions
- Pastels de Maurice-Quentin de La Tour – Around a hundred pastel portraits by the portraitist of Louis XV, displayed in three salons on the first floor.
- Arts décoratifs et peintures – Faience, Far Eastern porcelain, ivories, furniture, sculptures, and paintings from the 17th to the 20th century.
- Founded
- 1886
- Operated by
- Ville de Saint-Quentin
- Visitors per year
- approx. 13,754
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50Students, people over 65, people with disabilities, job seekers, members of the Amis du Louvre, holders of the Pass éducation (on proof) |
| Children & teens | –The full rate applies from age 18. |
| Seniors | €2.50Reduced rate from age 66. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €2.50 |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €3.50 per personFrom 15 people. |
Free admission possible under certain conditions.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum states it is fully accessible to wheelchair users: a ramp leads to the entrance hall, the large room of old paintings and the porcelain cabinet; an electric lift takes visitors to the three pastel salons; a mobile stair-lift provides access to the first floor and the basement.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers scientific and creative workshops as well as courses for young audiences.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The museum offers guided tours, lectures, workshops, introductory art courses and musée-philo sessions, by reservation. Schools can contact the museum on 03 23 63 68 15. |
