Creation of the first museum 1828 (≈ 1828)
Installation in the Priory Saint-Jean-de-Malte.
1838
Open to the public
Open to the public 1838 (≈ 1838)
Official opening of the museum.
1849
Bequest of François Marius Granet
Bequest of François Marius Granet 1849 (≈ 1849)
Donation of paintings and drawings to Aix.
1863
Donation Bourguignon de Fabregoules
Donation Bourguignon de Fabregoules 1863 (≈ 1863)
More than 800 leged works.
1984
Deposit of works by Cézanne
Deposit of works by Cézanne 1984 (≈ 1984)
Nine tables filed.
1990-2005
Major renovations
Major renovations 1990-2005 (≈ 1998)
Modernisation of premises and exhibitions.
2006
Re-opening after construction
Re-opening after construction 2006 (≈ 2006)
End of renovations and reopening.
2013
Integration of the chapel
Integration of the chapel 2013 (≈ 2013)
Opening of "Granet xxe".
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Fauris de Saint-Vincens - Collector
Founded the initial archaeological base.
François Marius Granet - Painter and donor
Bequeathed his works in Aix.
Jean-Baptiste de Bourguignon de Fabregoules - Donor
Offered more than 800 works.
Paul Cézanne - Symbolic painter
Represented by nine works.
Jean Planque - Collector (Plank Foundation)
Deposits of modern works (Picasso, etc.).
Philippe Meyer - Donor and physicist
Contributed with works from the 20th century.
Origin and history
The Granet Museum is a museum of fine arts, archaeology and decorative art located in Place Saint-Jean-de-Malte in Aix-en-Provence. Open to the public in 1838, it was created in the premises of the Priory of Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church, inaugurated ten years earlier. Since then, he has undergone several extensions and renovations, notably since the 1990s, to improve the exhibition of his permanent and temporary collections. Since 2013, the chapel of the White Penitents, classified as a historical monument, serves as an annex under the name "Granet xxe" and exhibits 20th century works from the Planque foundation.
The original collection of the museum comes from the collections of antiques of Fauris de Saint-Vincens, enriched in 1849 by the bequest of the painter François Marius Granet, who gave his hometown his paintings and drawings. Other major donations, such as that of Jean-Baptiste de Bourguignon de Fabregoules in 1863, extended the collections. In 1984, nine works by Paul Cézanne were deposited by the national museums, strengthening the local dimension of the museum.
The collections cover archaeology, with artifacts from the Oppidum d'Entremont, sculpture (from Francesco Laurana to Alberto Giacometti), a rich Egyptian section (sarcophagi, steles, mummies), and painting, from the 14th to the 20th century. Major works include works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Cézanne, Picasso, and Monet. However, some works have been set aside to favour temporary exhibitions, which are more financially profitable.
The museum underwent major renovations between 1990 and 2005 and reopened in 2006. He regularly organizes temporary exhibitions, such as those dedicated to Cézanne, Picasso, or Egyptian art. The chapel of the White Penitents, integrated in 2013, exhibits modern works thanks to the donation Planque, including pieces by Picasso, Monet, and Dubuffet.
Temporary exhibitions have taken a central place in the museum's programming, sometimes at the expense of the permanent exhibition. Highlights include retrospectives on Cézanne, explorations of Mediterranean art, and collaborations with international collections such as SFMOMA and Tate.
The Granet Museum remains a major cultural place in Provence, combining historical heritage and modernity, while highlighting local artists like Cézanne, deeply linked to Aix-en-Provence.
