Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Fesch Palace, now the Museum of Fine Arts of Ajaccio, was founded thanks to the legacy of Cardinal Joseph Fesch, Napoleon I's maternal uncle. This patron, passionate about art and greedy collector, owned up to 17,767 works, including 16,000 paintings. By 1806 he planned to establish an art institute in his hometown. When he died in 1839, his will bequeathed to Ajaccio 1,000 art objects, including 843 paintings, as well as sculptures, manuscripts and part of his furniture. After negotiations with his heir, Joseph Bonaparte, 300 more paintings were distributed to other Corsican municipalities.

The works of the palace, begun in 1828 under the direction of architect Frasseto, then taken over by Jean Caseneuve and Jérôme Maglioli, were completed in 1852. The imperial chapel, home to Cardinal Fesch and members of the Bonaparte family, was erected between 1857 and 1859 by Alexis Paccard. Consecrated in 1860 in the presence of Napoleon III, it symbolizes the imperial heritage. The museum, enriched by donations such as that of Felix Baciocchi in 1866, experienced periods of decline in the twentieth century, before a major renovation in 1980 and a reopening in 1990.

Today, the Fesch Museum exhibits nearly 400 paintings on four floors, with a focus on Italian art (XIVth-15th centuries) and a Napoleonic section of 700 works. It also houses a library and auditorium. Ranked "Musée de France", it is known for its collection of primitive Italians, second in importance after that of the Louvre. Temporary exhibitions and cultural events are regularly organized, strengthening its role as an artistic hub in Corsica.

Collection

Il présente une des plus belles collections de peinture ancienne de France ainsi que l'une des plus importantes collections napoléoniennes.

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