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Origin and history

The Lombart Museum in Doullens, Somme, is a museum of art and archaeology labeled Museum of France. It is housed in a brick building built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Jourdant to house the collections of Jules-François Lombart, a chocolate industrialist. The latter, founder of the Lombart Chocolates, left the building and its collections in 1908 in memory of his parents from the region. The neo-Renaissance style building is distinguished by its rectangular gallery framed by two square pavilions, decorated with pediments and sculptures, including sphinges made by Legrand. A limestone cornice, decorated with cartouches dedicated to fine arts, overlooks the facade. The museum also extends to a neogothic chapel of the 1840s, former chapel of the Sisters of Louvencourt, which houses archaeological collections and an organ Orchestra Welte.

The museum houses various works, including paintings from French (XVIIIth–XXth centuries) and Flemish (Dirk Bouts, Adriaen van Utrecht), prints (Francisque Poulbot, Foujita), and sculptures (Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux). The chapel of Louvencourt exhibits archaeological pieces, such as an Egyptian mummy of the eighteenth dynasty (3,500 years old) and an 11th century baptismal tank. Curiosities include a 19th-century flute player automaton, restored in 2022, and a dyed oak Orchestral Welte organ. The building and its garden, decorated with statues and a 17th-century well, have been listed as historical monuments since 2012.

The collections come mainly from the legacy of Jules-François Lombart (1830–1915), made up during his travels and personal orders. Subsequent donations, often from local artists, have enriched the funds, covering areas such as fine arts, local history, and foreign antiques (especially Egyptians). The museum's architecture, typical of the late 19th century, combines brick and stone, with a roofed glass window illuminating the main gallery. The access pavilions, illuminated by side windows, complement this remarkable ensemble, reflecting the eclectic tastes of its founder.

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