Both a résumé of French architecture from

the 13th to the 17th century and a model

for the restoration of a historic castle in the

19th century, the Château de Blois also

houses an art gallery.

Founded in 1850, the Musée des Beaux-Arts

spans the centuries from the Italian

and French Renaissance (Melzi, Menzocchi,

Lavinia Fontana) to 19th century France

(Ducis, Ingres, Étex, Gechter).

The classical period is also well represented

(Bourdon, Stella, Vignon). In addition,

the gallery has a number of original

collections such as Jean-Baptiste Nini's

terracotta medallions that reflect society

during the Enlightenment.