The Museum of fine arts in Angers is located a few hundred meters from the two main attractions – the Chateau d'angers and the Cathedral of Saint-Maurice. And just outside the gallery named after a sculptor and medal designer David d'angers – these buildings form the Museum quarter, which also includes a library and University premises.

The Museum of fine arts is housed in the mansion of the late XV century, which was built by the Anjou mayor and Treasurer of Brittany Olivier Barrot in the style of the French Renaissance. The walls of this mansion has seen many famous personalities who have marked the history of France – for example, king Louis XII, of Caesar Borgia and Maria de ' Medici, whose property he was. In 1673, the building was purchased by the Catholic Church and after a significant restructuring has placed in the Seminary.

During the great French revolution, the mansion was opened to the Central school, but it did not last long – just two years, from 1801 to 1803. Created at the school of the Museum continued its work even after two years with the opening of the hall of science has expanded its exposition. In 1839, in one of the former Seminary was opened Galerie David d'angers, who in 1984 moved to the renovated building of the Church of All Saints.

In the middle of the XIX century, the Museum became the owner of this treasure is obtained by will collection Lancelot Theodore of Turpin de criss that included basic Egyptian, Greek and Roman origin, porcelain wares and paintings of the famous painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Another large-scale replenishment of Museum collections occurred in 2003, when under the will of Daniel Duclos to the Museum passed the castle Vilavek, which became a branch of the Museum, and almost a thousand works of art.

At the end of last and beginning of this century, the Museum was reconstructed and today it is one of the largest museums of France, located in the province. Its area is about seven acres.