Boasting some 19,000 items, the Musée d'arts de Nantes' graphic arts cabinet preserves a wide variety of works on paper, from the 15th century to the present day. Classified by artist, fund or collection, the works testify to the richness of the museum's collections and their technical diversity: pastel, drawing, engraving, photography...
The graphic arts department is responsible for the conservation of works of art, and for mounting and framing them. It supervises their installation in the museum galleries, among the collections or for temporary exhibitions.
Because of their fragility and sensitivity to light, the graphic arts collections are kept in reserve, and cannot be displayed permanently. This is why the works on paper are regularly renewed.
Works from the graphic arts cabinet
- The early collection is distinguished by the 64 albums compiled by François Cacault, a kind of art history textbook before its time, containing almost 7,300 engravings.
- The 19th-century collection comprises over 4,000 drawings and prints, including the Elie Delaunay collection, numerous preparatory studies by Luc-Olivier Merson and a substantial collection of engravings by James Tissot.
- Modern art includes over 3,500 drawings and prints, many of which have been donated by the collector Gildas Fardel. There is also the Bryen collection (deposited by the Camille Bryen Foundation under the aegis of the Fondation de France).
- The contemporary collection includes almost 300 photographs (Seton Smith, Efrat Shvily, David Goldblatt...) and 470 drawings, including significant ensembles by Sarkis (watercolors), Toni Grand (drawings) and Rosemarie Trockel (drawings).
Key figures
5 882 drawings
10 642 prints
2 586 photos
92 wood or copper dies, and lithographic stones
42 artists' books
64 albums of 18th century engravings
Viewing the works
Consultation is open to researchers by appointment. Requests must be addressed to the head of the graphic arts department and made at least two weeks in advance, using the contact form.