Museum of Fine Arts of Rouen

The museum houses Claude Monet's iconic 'Rouen Cathedral' painting from his legendary series, which art historians consider 'the summit of Impressionism.' Monet painted over 30 views of the cathedral between 1892-1894 from a rented room across the street, capturing the facade at different times of day and seasons to study how light transforms architecture.

Coal magnate François Depeaux single-handedly transformed this museum into an Impressionist powerhouse by donating 53 masterpieces in 1909. At his peak, Depeaux owned over 600 paintings including 60 Sisleys, 20 Monets, and works by Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec, making him one of the greatest Impressionist collectors in history.

The museum possesses Caravaggio's dramatic 'Flagellation of Christ,' acquired in 1955, making Rouen one of the few French cities outside Paris to own a work by this revolutionary Italian Baroque master. The painting exemplifies Caravaggio's revolutionary use of chiaroscuro - the dramatic contrast between light and dark.

Founded during the French Revolution in 1801 under Napoleon's Chaptal decree, the museum originally displayed works confiscated from churches, nobles, and emigrants. It moved through three different locations before settling in its current purpose-built neoclassical building, which took 8 years to construct (1880-1888).