LANGUEDOC-MONTPELLIER-MUSEE FABRE AND OTHERS
Jack
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In Montpellier there are fine museums, nice walks, enough to keep your
mind and feet busy agreeably. I underline the quality of the works
presented at the musee Fabre, what makes it one of the richest
province museums.
MUSEE FABRE was disposed at the beginning of the 19th century in the
hotel de Massilian for the collection of its founder, the Montpellier
painter Francois-Xavier-Fabre, then enlarged by a part of the Jesuit
college (end 17th century). It should de developed even more for the
year 2000 by occupying the offices of the adjacent library, who moves
to Antigone. So we have lots of space, which is a minimum for this
municipal museum, one of the richest of France. Actually on 6 levels,
1600 painted or sculpted works.
Levels 0, 1 and 2 : european schools of the 17th and 18th century
(Veronese, Poussin,Bourdon, Guardi, Zurbaran, etc...) and sculptures
from Houdon. Neo-classicism with David, and a remarkable collection of
Flemish and Dutch masters.
Level ---2: ceramics and earthenware, of which some rare Montpellier
characteristic yellows and blues.
Level ---3: the collection of the maecenas Alfred Bruyas; first rate
artists with eight Delacroix, thirteen Courbet and four Gericault,
without forgetting the Ingres, Corot, Rousseau and other Millet.
Go upstairs to level 3 to see more of the 19th century, particularly
well represented here; Bazille(La Toilette, a hit!), Degas, Manet(very
nice portrait of Antonin Proust), Berthe Morizot.
A great museum, really, but be warned!: the works are often gone for
exhibitions or lend to other museums, and if you come especially for a
certain artist, take your informations first.
At the entry, "La Femme qui marchait sur l'eau" from Maillol : a pure
grace!
For works of the 20th century, see the pavillon du musee Fabre which
will follow now.
PAVILLON DU MUSEE FABRE lies at the border of the Esplanade, between
the place de la Comedie and the musee Fabre. A bright, airy setting
for the painting of the 20th century well represented with major
artists and, above all, quality works. Maurice Denis or Caillebotte
(very nice pastel, Portrait de Madame X), a "Nature morte aux couteaux
noirs by Matisse", a superb Stael, , a "petite corrida" by Dufy as we
all like, also Soulages, Van Dongen and some very good regional
artists. Notice also a Viera da Silva, an underrated superb Portuguese
painter.
There are other museums, but I didn't visit them, but according to the
local guides they are certainly worth a visit;
MUSEE LANGUEDOCIEN ET DE LA SOCIETE ARCHEOLOGIQUE with objects and
treasures from all the centuries in Montpellier and the Languedoc.
MUSEE DU VIEUX MONTPELLIER which evokes the history of the city and
the MUSEE ATGER, a small jewel reuniting all the drawing of a master,
Jean-Francois Atger, and his personal collection of drawings by the
great masters of the 16th to the 18th century: Tiepolo, Carrache,
Rubens, Champaigne, Rigaud, Fragonard, Watteau...A remarkable
ensemble, unique in the world.
This concludes the guide of Montpellier. What will be next?
Jack
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