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Origin and history

The Musée d'Art Moderne de Troyes originated from the exceptional donation of Pierre and Denise Lévy, the Troy textile industry, who donated their collection to the city in 1976. This gesture allows the creation of a museum dedicated to modern art, inaugurated in 1982 by President François Mitterrand. The chosen building, the former Episcopal Palace of Troyes, combines architectural elements of the 16th and 17th centuries with Gallo-Roman remains integrated into its foundations, offering a historical setting to works ranging from realism to cubism.

The museum's collections cover a wide panorama of French art, from the second half of the 19th century to the 1960s, with major works by Courbet, Degas, Gauguin, or Derain – 80 of which are one of the most important ensembles in the world. The sculpture is also well represented, with pieces by Rodin, Maillol, Zadkine, and an iconic bronze by Picasso, Le Fou (1905). A unique collection of Art Deco glassware signed by Maurice Marinot, as well as a first-art collection linked to donors, complete this collection.

Closed several years for renovation, the museum reopens in April 2024 in the historic district of Troyes, near the cathedral. Its ancient episcopal palace, classified for its wings and its sloping door, combines a characteristic sixteenth century Champagne checker with subsequent developments, reflecting almost a thousand years of architectural history. The museum particularly highlights the fauvous movements and the École de Paris, with artists such as Modigliani, Soutine, or Matisse, while highlighting the links between modern art and the arts of Africa or Oceania.

The building itself, marked by transformations from the 12th to the 19th century, preserves features such as a monumental staircase, a garden lined with walls, and an arch entrance. These elements, combined with the collections, make the museum a place where dialogue between the medieval heritage of Troyes – the former capital of the Counts of Champagne – and the audacity of the artistic avant-gardes of the twentieth century.

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