Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Paul-Dupuy Museum, now named the Paul-Dupuy Museum of Precious Arts, has its origins in the desire of Paul Dupuy, a passionate collector, to offer a setting for his works. In 1905 he acquired the former Besson Hotel, a 17th-century building located on Rue de la Pleau in Toulouse, between the Saint-Étienne and Parliament districts. Dupuy undertook an ambitious restoration: elevation, addition of a Mirande floor, completion of a capitular turret and restoration of the brick façade. Originally a private museum, the establishment became a municipal in 1949, after the legacy of the collections and building to the city by Paul Dupuy.

The museum is distinguished by its varied collections, from bequests and major donations. The design firm (created in 1949) preserves more than 6,000 works from the 15th to the 20th century, including works by southern artists like Ingres or Rivalz, and Italians like Verona. The print office gathers 40,000 postcards, 30,000 engravings and 5,000 photographs, classified by theme. An exceptional watch section, made up of the gift of Edward Gélis in 1944, presents 130 pieces dating from the 16th to the 19th century, supplemented by scientific instruments (bussols, microscopes).

Among the treasures exhibited are the so-called "Cor de Roland" (XI–XIIth century), from the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, and the Jesuit Droguier (1632), furnished in earthenware of the 17th–15th centuries, housing historical medical tools. The collections extend to the Toulouse decorative arts: goldsmithy of the 17th–15th centuries, furniture marked from the 18th century (including pieces of the Castle of Reynerie), and regional faiences. The museum thus illustrates handicrafts and local artistic heritage, from the Middle Ages to 1939.

The history of the museum is marked by its institutional evolution. In 1968, it expanded with the acquisition of a building on Rue d'Aussargues, completely renovated between 1980 and 1985. This expansion makes it possible to better expose the collections, reorganized according to scientific criteria under the impulse of conservatives like Robert Mesert and Jean Vergnet-Ruiz. The museum then specializes in graphic arts and medieval and modern art objects, becoming a key player in Toulouse's heritage.

The collections are enriched with prestigious gifts, such as that of the Rozès de Brousse family (drawings, engravings, posters) or the Regraffé collection by Miribel. The museum also preserves unique sets, such as the embroidered altar trimming of the Cordeliers convent (XVI century) or ancient weapons (swords, pistols). These elements are evidence of the diversity of local know-how, from ironwork to textiles, as well as the vernished ceramics of Languedoc.

Today, the Paul-Dupuy Museum remains a place to discover precious arts, mixing Toulouse's heritage and European influences. Its building, former restored mansion, and its collections reflect Paul Dupuy's commitment to preserve and enhance the regional artistic heritage, while offering a panorama of techniques and styles from the Middle Ages to the first half of the 20th century.

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