7 Reasons to Visit the MNBAQ This Summer
Content partner : Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Planning a trip to Québec City soon? If you love art and exploration, the MNBAQ (Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec) is a must-see attraction. Here are 7 reasons to put this fine art museum at the top of your list.
Rembrandt van Rijn, Rembrandt et Saskia, 1636. Eau-forte, 90 x 92 mm. Collection Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, MS 640 (PK), de la succession de H.M. Montauban van Swijndregt, 1929 / Photo : Rik Klein Gotink
1Marvelling at the Works of Rembrandt
Works by the great Dutch master Rembrandt will take pride of place at the MNBAQ this summer. Take this opportunity to contemplate 80 etchings by an artist regarded as one of the greatest printmakers of all time. The exclusive exhibit will be the only chance to admire them up close in Canada before they are brought home to the Netherlands.
Helen McNicoll, Sur la plage, 1912. Huile sur toile, 63,5 × 76,8 cm. Collection Pierre Lassonde / Photo: MNBAQ, Idra Labrie
2Discovering a Great Canadian Impressionist
The MNBAQ will be the only place in the world to host the works of Helen McNicoll, in an exhibition running from June 20, 2024, to January 5, 2025. Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey features over 65 works by the Canadian artist, including 25 from the prestigious Pierre Lassonde collection. A lesser-known artist, McNicoll was influenced by the emergence of tourism and her extensive travels, both of which are reflected as themes in her work.
MNBAQ, Denis Legendre
3Admiring Some of Québec’s Best Art
No visit to the MNBAQ is complete without a visit to its incredible permanent exhibitions, such as Us, a philosophical exploration of 69 works of ancient, modern and contemporary art.
The museum is also home to rich collections of Québec design, contemporary art, and Inuit art, as well as Jean Paul Riopelle’s monumental fresco Tribute to Rosa Luxemburg, a narrative sequence of 30 paintings totalling over 40 metres long.
MNBAQ, Denis Legendre
4Basking in the Architectural Beauty of the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion
The Pierre Lassonde Pavilion was inaugurated in 2016 and is a work of art in its own right. Its architectural features include glass walls that let in a tremendous amount of natural light, making it the ideal setting for unique photo opportunities.
MNBAQ, Denis Legendre
5Bringing Home a Little Piece of the Museum
The art appreciation doesn’t have to end when the museum closes—stop by the MNBAQ Librairie-Boutique for a souvenir! The shelves of this bookstore and gift shop are overflowing with local finds and a large collection of art books. There are also creations
by Québec artists and exhibition-inspired items for every budget, so every visitor can leave with something to remember their experience by.
- MNBAQ
6Enjoying a Meal in a Unique Setting
All that art is enough to make anyone hungry! Luckily, visitors can sit down to a meal crafted by renowned chef Laurent Godbout at the Café Québecor. Located in the gorgeous hall of the sun-drenched Pierre Lassonde Pavilion, the 70-seat restaurant offers a bespoke menu that changes not only with the seasons but also with the museum’s exhibitions. That’s right—the artistic immersion extends right onto the plate!
- Stéphane Bourgeois
7Taking a Guided Tour
Visitors are always free to wander the museum at their own pace, but the most comprehensive MNBAQ experience comes from a guided tour. Check out when the next tour starts and embark on an in-depth exploration of the museum’s collections or current flagship exhibition.
The MNBAQ is now offering a new, more personalized way to appreciate art and ask questions without holding back: a chatbot! The first of its kind in Québec, the bot will be launched this summer loaded with information about some twenty works in the MNBAQ collection, and more to come!
Psst! Pro tip: buy tickets online in advance to save money and skip the line!
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
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