Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Quesnel-Morinière Museum is housed in a 17th century mansion, located on Rue Quesnel-Morinière in Coutances, on the edge of the Jardin des Plantes. This granite building, enlarged by an orangery in the 19th century, was acquired in 1823 by Jean-Jacques Quesnel, husband of Marie-Charlotte Christy de la Morinière. In 1852, Quesnel left the property to the city, provided that it created a cultural space and a public garden. The museum was officially founded in 1868, on the initiative of Basile Quesnel, artist and director of the local drawing school, but only opened in 1874, originally funded by the Archaeological Society of Coutances.

The collections, made up of donations and government deposits, are enriched by Léon Quesnel, Basile's first curator and son. They include paintings from the 17th to 20th centuries, sculptures (including Ernest-Hulin donation), Norman ceramics (including the Stephen-Chauvet collection), and local archaeological objects. The museum suffered damage during the 1944 bombings, losing part of its numismatic collections and weapons. Since the 1970s, donations and purchases have helped to replenish and expand funds, such as the 5,000 objects recorded in 2014.

The museum journey, organised in seven rooms, combines chronology and themes: the large gallery exhibits 19th-century sculptures, while a graphic arts firm presents 1500 engravings and drawings. A room is dedicated to the local artistic movement Le Pou that climbs, and another to the ceramics of Cotentin, testimonies of Norman rural life. Highlights include pastel portraits of Langlois de Sézanne, Hambye's paintings, and objects related to Admiral Jean-Marthe-Adrien Lhermitte, a native of Coutances. The private hotel, classified as Musée de France, remains an emblematic place of the culture of Mancho.

The history of the museum is inseparable from the Quesnel family: Jean-Jacques acquired it, Basile launched its creation, and Léon structured its collections. The ceramic collection, donated by Jacqueline-Louis Gallouin-Chauvet in 1969 and 1984, illustrates the craftsmanship of the potter centres of Cotentin (Néhou, Sauxemesnil). The museum also preserves memories of Admiral Lhermitte and Prince Lebrun, local figures related to the Empire. Its architecture, combining 17th century granite and 19th century additions, makes it a remarkable example of the Cotanca heritage.

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