Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille was founded in 1802, following the decree Chaptal of August 31, 1801, which provided for the sending of works of art to provincial cities. The first collections come from the revolutionary seizures of emigrant property, inventoried by a commission of the arts led by Claude-François Achard in 1794. The museum opened on September 9, 1804 in the convent of Bernardines, becoming the first museum in Marseille.

The chapel of Bernardines proved too small, the museum was transferred to the Longchamp Palace, built to celebrate the arrival of the Durance waters in Marseilles. This project, including a water castle, waterfalls and two buildings for the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine Arts, was inaugurated in 1869. The museum finally opened in its new premises on January 1, 1873.

The museum houses works by French, Italian, Spanish and Nordic schools, with major pieces such as drawings by Pierre Puget and sculptures by Rodin. After a complete renovation between 2005 and 2013, the Longchamp Palace and the museum regain their brilliance, with modernised spaces that meet the standards of conservation and accessibility.

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