The Collection of Francis I

Francis I was the first Renaissance king of France, and reigned from 1515 to 1547. A man of considerable intelliugence and education, Francis embraced the new art of Renaisssance Italy with enthusiasm and taste, collecting the finest paintings and sculptures from Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and others, When possible he brought the artists back to work with him in France. His many acquisitions and commissions formed the nucleus of the French royal collections, now in the Louvre.