Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Mainssieux Museum originated in the legacy of painter Lucien Mainssieux (1885-1958) to his hometown of Voiron. A passionate artist and collector, he has accumulated 695 paintings and about 6,800 drawings throughout his life, as well as 343 paintings and 400 drawings from other artists, mainly from 19th and 20th century French works. His attachment to the landscapes and schools of Lyon and Dauphin, as well as to his friends met in North Africa, has shaped a classic and eclectic collection. The museum was inaugurated in 1989 by Philippe Vial, then Mayor of Voiron, and obtained the name Musée de France in 2004.

Located in the pedestrian city centre of Voiron, close to the Saint-Bruno church and the railway station, the museum offers an immersive three-storey tour. The ground floor evokes the memories of Mainssieux, while the upper floors explore its collector facets, its link with Paris, its passion for music and its attachment to the Mediterranean. In 2018, the museum's permanent exhibition and visual identity were renewed, followed by a new course in 2022. The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions, highlighting artists like Corot, Renoir or Jacqueline Marval, as well as various themes, from still life to travel in Italy.

Accessible to all, the museum has been designed to accommodate persons with disabilities in accordance with the 2005 Act. Equipment such as an elevator, touchboards and audioguides with audio description allow an inclusive visit. The museum's fonds reflect Mainssieux's insatiable curiosity, which acquired works as early as 1905, sometimes at the expense of his fortune, in brocades, in merchants or directly with artists. Its heritage now offers a panorama of French painting, marked by landscapes and artistic friendships, notably with Lyon and Dauphin painters.

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