Donation by Jean Laronze 1933 (≈ 1933)
Museum foundation with 43 works given.
1er septembre 1933
Initial Inauguration
Initial Inauguration 1er septembre 1933 (≈ 1933)
Opening in the Baillage Hall.
1962
Temporary closure
Temporary closure 1962 (≈ 1962)
Later transfer of collections.
1994
Re-opening to the priory
Re-opening to the priory 1994 (≈ 1994)
New site and name *Musée du Prieuré*.
2001
Donation of Friends of the Priory
Donation of Friends of the Priory 2001 (≈ 2001)
Enrichment of municipal collections.
2005
Label Musée de France
Label Musée de France 2005 (≈ 2005)
Official recognition of collections.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Jean Laronze - Painter and donor
Founded the museum in 1933.
Auguste Galimard - 19th Century Painter
Works included in the donation.
René Davoine - Conservative (1933–1962)
Manage the museum until it closes.
Origin and history
The Musée du Prieuré Jean Laronze came into being in 1933, when the painter Jean Laronze offered to the city of Charolles 43 of his works (21 paintings and 22 drawings), as well as ancient engravings (XVIIth–XIXth centuries) and paintings by Auguste Galimard. Originally housed in the Salle du Baillage (17th century), the museum opened its doors on 1 September 1933 under the name Musée Jean Laronze, with René Dovois as curator until its closure in 1962. The collections, transferred to a convent of the Clarisses in the 1980s, remained scarce until 1994.
In 1994, the works were moved to the first floor of the former priory of Madeleine (XIIth–XVIth centuries), becoming the Museum of the Priory. The site showcases paintings (Jean Laronze, Paul Louis Nigaud), local faiences (including those of the Charolaise Faïencerie), and classified clunisian capitals. In 2001, the Association des Amis du Prieuré bequeathed its collection to the city, allowing the museum to obtain in 2005 the label Musée de France. René Dovoine's sculptures were then transferred to the chapel for conservation reasons.
The priory, founded in the tenth century, preserves medieval remains such as a capitular hall (XV–XVIth centuries) restored in 2003 and an archaeological area excavated in 2004–2005. Local folklore, originally exposed, is removed from permanent collections after 2001. Today, the museum values both its artistic heritage (donations of Laronze and Galimard) and its historical setting, bearing witness to the Clunisian heritage of Charolles.
