The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen is one of the main museums of Rouen. Founded in 1801 by Napoleon Bonaparte, its collection is one of the most prestigious in France and preserves paintings, sculptures, drawings and objects of applied art, covering a time span ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary art, including a rare collection of Russian icons from the 15th to the beginning of the 19th century. The museum is housed in a late 19th century building. Within the rich collection, that of paintings is of particular interest: every European school from the 15th to the 21st is adequately represented. It is possible to observe works by important artists such as Perugino, Veronese, Carracci, Rubens, Caravaggio, Guercino, Vélazquez, De Ribera, Philippe de Champaigne, Eustache La Soeur, Poussin and several others. The collection of Impressionism is particularly present and is one of the most important in France, thanks to the donation of François Depeaux in 1909, who created the first collection of Impressionist artists outside Paris in Rouen. Other 19th and 20th century artists present in the museum are David, Géricault, Delacroix, Corot, Derain, Modigliani, Duchamp, Dubiffet, Pinchon. The exhibition hall of drawings houses over 8000 pieces ranging from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.

The museum also organizes numerous temporary exhibitions as well as various contemporary art exhibitions.