Musée Granet

The Granet Museum is an art museum in Aix -en- Provence, one of the oldest and richest in France.

History

The museum was founded in 1765. The basis was the antique collection of Fauris de Saint -Vincent. Since the 19th century, the museum is housed in a priory of Malteser Order. The building was rebuilt in 1671 and is located on the grounds of the church of Saint -Jean -de -Malte at the Mazarin district. The inauguration took place in 1838 under the name Musée d' Aix instead.

1849, the collection of antiquities by the legacy of the painter François Marius Granet ( 1775-1849 ) has been added, a friend of Jean -Auguste -Dominique Ingres, the city of his birth Aix bequeathed all works of art in his possession. 200 works were handed over in accordance with his will, the Louvre. The collection was complemented by several foundations: Jean -Baptiste de Bourguignon de Fabregoules bequeathed to the museum 800 works of art.

From 1860, the Granet wing was built. A second building followed in 1870, a third in 1900 and was completed the complex around 1940.

In 1949 the museum to Granet's 100th anniversary was renamed and henceforth bears his name ..

1984 came eight exemplary images of Cézanne permanent loan from Paris to the Granet Museum. Until then, the city could not have a single painting of this important artist.

Significant contemporary works of art are an anonymous foundation of 2000, issued under the name De Cézanne à Giacometti.

All buildings were thoroughly renovated from 1990 to 2005. In 2006, the museum received a 21 million redevelopment project and was reopened after extensive renovations.

The temporary exhibition Picasso - Cézanne was seen until 27 September 2009 at the Musée Granet.

Museum's collections

Archeology

In the entrance hall, the museum houses an archaeological collection, the artifacts from the Roman era and shows keltoligurische finds from the oppidum of Entremont. On display are torsos of youth statues and the famous sculpted heads ( têtes coupées ). These are replicas to separate heads, which decreased their slain enemies, the Celts and as trophies hung at the entrances of their sanctuaries. A block in the Museum shows five such heads that are side by side and placed over another. In addition, some Roman portraits, sarcophagi and grave stelae are issued.

Fine Arts

Upstairs paintings are shown, which mainly come from the collection of patron and painter François Marius Granet. On display are romantic landscape scenes from Italy and small landscape sketches in oil and watercolor, who were influenced by Corot. By Jean -Auguste -Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) the main plant Jupiter and Thetis is issued as well as a portrait of Granet, whom he met during his formative years in Paris. Further work at the Musée Granet are of great French painters like Henri Matisse and Fernand Léger.

From the Dutch painters Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and Robert Campin (1375-1444) are represented, which is also known as the " Master of Flémalle ". His work shows a group of three with Peter, Augustine and a donor, over which hovers an enthroned Madonna. In addition, many smaller works and the appearance of a festive feast from the 16th century ( School of Fontainebleau ) find.

The main exhibits of the museum the work of the home artist Paul Cézanne, who was born in 1839 in Aix -en- Provence apply. The pictures came out on permanent loan from Paris to the Granet Museum. It's small format oil paintings, covering the entire artistic career of the painter. In the collection, however, is not one that shows the famous motif of the Mont Sainte- Victoire. The earliest work of eight images is considered " The Muse kiss " Cézanne copied the age of twenty by the painter Félix Nicolas Frillie ( 1821-63 ). Other paintings include landscapes, still lifes, nudes and portraits, but also late works, which are attributable to Cubism.

Bridge of San Rocco and Grand Waterfall at Tivoli by François -Marius Granet

Paul Cezanne: Bathers, 1895

Virgin in Glory by Robert Campin