In the modern school, the following are especially noteworthy: La Medée, by Eugène Delacroix (strikingly dramatic), L'après-diner à Ornans, by Courbet, the colouring of which is unfortunately fading; La Becquée, charming genre painting by Millet; Effet du Matin, by Corot, remarkable for its beautiful effects of silvery light.
II.—Sculpture
Of the collections of sculpture, only the fine bust of Bonaparte by Corbet, dated 1799, is worthy of special mention.
III.—Archeological and Lapidary Museum
The Archeological Museum contains the following remarkable works of art: Three 14th century statuettes of the Virgin (two of wood, one of marble); an ivory diptych of the Crucifixion; a 13th century reliquary cross of Flemish origin; divers curious specimens of brass-work, including the Censer of Lille, rightly considered a masterpiece; a richly embroidered altar-cloth, representing the Annunciation.
IV.—The Wicar Collections
The important Wicar Collections were bequeathed by the Lille painter, Jean Baptist Wicar, pupil of David (1762-1834), who in 1815 succeeded in protecting the Museum of Lille from spoliation by the Allies.
Commissary to Bonaparte in Italy, and later Director of the Royal Academy at Naples, Wicar adopted Roman nationality, and collected a large number of fine drawings and art treasures. Parts of his collections are to-day at Oxford. The famous "Wax Head" (p. [43]) is in the centre of the Wicar Room.
There are several Renaissance bronzes worthy of note, also a marble bas-relief by Donatello, representing the Beheading of John the Baptist, and a fine terra-cotta Head of Child by Verrochio. The drawings merit careful inspection. The following are especially remarkable: Studies on pink and yellow grounds, by Filippo Lippi, Filippino, Ghirlandaio, and La Verrochio; Head of Bald Man, by Montegna; 14 drawings on parchment, representing scenes from the Metamorphoses, Children's Games and Arabesques, attributed by L. Gonse to Jacopo Francia, attest marvellous delicacy and skill; two sheets of caricatures by Leonard de Vinci and 60 sketches by Raphael; studies in black and red by Michael Angelo, especially a Dead Christ, figure of a naked man, fantastic masks and a series of 184 architectural drawings, generally known as the "Book of Michael Angelo." Annibal Carrache, Le Guide, Guerchin, Sodoma and André del Sarto are also well represented.
On the other hand, French drawings are few in number, the most remarkable being one by David for his "Serment des Horaces." The others include: "Le Corps de Garde," by Boilly (fine, carefully-finished drawing); a naked Woman, by Watteau; two drawings by Ingres for his "Apotheose d'Homère;" a drawing by Poussin for the "Massacre des Innocents"; a wonderful Portrait of Old Man, by Lagneau, an artist little known in the reign of Louis XIII, but a great master; lastly a fascinating fusain drawing by Millet: "Le Troupeau de Moutons an milieu d'un bois."