Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Ziem Museum is a museum located in the centre of Martigues, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. He owes his name and foundation to a major donation by artist Félix Ziem (1821–1911), who in 1908 offered a sketch representing the presidential visit of Émile Loubet to Toulon in 1901. Originally dedicated to Fine Arts, the museum has gradually enriched itself with various collections, ranging from local archaeology to contemporary art, to a significant ethnographic background. Ziem's work occupies a central place, with oils and drawings illustrating his travels to Venice, Constantinople and Martigues.

In 1982, the museum was transferred to a former customs barracks, specially renovated to accommodate its collections. His permanent exhibitions highlight the landscapes of the Marseille School (Émile Loubon, Paul Guigou, Jean-Baptiste Olive), as well as works by modern artists such as Raoul Dufy, André Derain and Francis Picabia. A section is also devoted to ex-votos (painted and goldsmithy), including the Treasury of the Virgin, and local archaeological discoveries. Since its creation, the museum has regularly organized temporary exhibitions in tribute to Felix Ziem, marking the stages of his career and artistic influence.

The collections of the Ziem Museum reflect both the heritage of its founder and the cultural diversity of Martigues. In addition to Ziem's paintings and drawings, the public can discover objects from the archaeological excavations of the region, as well as works by contemporary artists such as Claude Viallat, André-Pierre Arnal and Ernest Pignon-Ernest. Recent exhibitions have explored various themes, such as Ziem's ties with Italy (Ziem and Italy, 2022) or his representation of the Mediterranean (Félix Ziem, painter of the Mediterranean, 2023), confirming his anchoring in Provencal and Mediterranean artistic history.

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