Musee des Beaux-Arts, Valenciennes. The musée des beaux-arts de Valenciennes is a municipal museum in the French town of Valenciennes. Its collections originated as the collection of the Académie valenciennoise de peinture et de sculpture. It opened to the public for the first time in 1801 and was moved into the town hall in 1834. A competition to design a new building was held at the end of the 19th century, won by Paul Dusart. The new building was opened on 27 June 1909 and in 1995 was totally renovated and the display space expanded, with the addition of a basement displaying archaeological remains and artefacts. As well as paintings, it includes several sculptures by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, born in the town, as well as a prints and drawings. Much of the collection is by Flemish artists, though also includes some French and other artists. It dates from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.