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.