Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire Baron-Gérard (MAHB), labeled Musée de France, has been housed since 1900 in the former Episcopal Palace of Bayeux, adjacent to Notre Dame Cathedral. He owes his name to Henri Alexandre Gérard (1818–1903), MP and patron whose donation in 1899, including works by David, Gros and François Gérard, formed the core of the collections. The palace, dating back to the 11th–XVIth centuries, was completely restored and enlarged before its reopening in 2013, doubling its exhibition surface.

The collections, rich in 800 archaeological pieces, 600 works of art (paintings by Van der Goes, Boucher, Caillebotte, etc.) and 2,500 porcelains and laces, recount Bayeux's history from prehistoric to contemporary times. The museum trail, organised in 14 stages, highlights remarkable spaces such as the Renaissance Episcopal Chapel with its 17th century murals, or the courtroom of the 19th century court. The emphasis is on local heritage, including the lace and porcelain of Bayeux, flourishing industries in the 18th to 19th centuries.

Founded in 1793 under the Revolution to protect seized property, including the Tapestry of Bayeux, the museum was first installed in the Mathilde Gallery before settling in the episcopal palace. The 2013 reorganization incorporated a contemporary extension, allowing a dialogue between historical architecture and works, like the primitive Italians faced with local Gothic creations. MAHB is now part of the Bayeux Museum triptych, alongside the Tapestry (classified World Memory by UNESCO) and the Battle of Normandy Memorial.

Among the key figures, Arcisse de Caumont, a founding archaeologist, and Henri-Alexandre Gérard, a major donor, marked his history. The museum also preserves traces of local artisanal activities, such as lace — of which Bayeux was a major centre in the 19th century — and porcelain, produced from 1812 to 1951 by the Langlois, Gosse and Morlent families. The 20th century collections include prints by Vlaminck or Matisse, as well as Art Nouveau and Art Deco ceramics.

MAHB's French Museum status was strengthened in 2017 by a convention recognizing the unity of its collection with the Tapestry of Bayeux. This link underlined by the State enshrines the complementarity between a medieval jewel and a museum of art and history, both anchored in the ancient Episcopal Palace, symbol of Norman heritage.

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