Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Vernon Museum was founded in 1862, when a first collection of naturalized birds and objects of curiosity was created. Over the decades, this fund has enriched with archaeological objects, state deposits (including paintings) and private donations in the field of fine arts. These successive contributions, often linked to the engagement of local collectors, laid the foundations for a future multidisciplinary museum establishment, although still informal at that time.

In 1927, the Vernon archaeologist and scholar A.G. Poulain offered his personal collection to the museum, marking a turning point in its development. Then, in 1964, the donation of 50 works by Steinlen prompted the municipality to acquire a dedicated building. This choice was made on one of the few private hotels of the family Le Moine de Bellisle (XVth–XVth centuries) that survived the 1944 bombings. The museum finally opened its doors to the public in 1983, in this preserved historical setting.

Today, the museum is distinguished by three main axes: animal art, the works of Giverny's artists (including Monet's paintings, unique in the Eure department), and a humorous drawing firm illustrating French society. This orientation reflects the legacy of donors and the desire to reconcile local heritage, archaeology and fine arts, while building on the history of the mansion.

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