Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Musée des Beaux-Arts is the oldest museum in Marseille and houses a significant collection of European paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries. The institution was founded in 1802 in the wake of the French Revolution, with the artworks initially coming from church property and confiscated private collections. Originally housed in a monastery chapel, the museum later moved to the magnificent Palais Longchamp. Built in the Historicist style, this building houses the fine arts in one wing, while the other is home to natural history. After an extensive renovation and redesign of the interiors, the museum reopened in 2013 as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations.

Visitors can expect a diverse selection of works, with a strong focus on artists from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Italian Baroque painting is represented by biblical and classical subjects from masters such as Giovanni Lanfranco and Lavinia Fontana, while in the Flemish and Dutch section, an outstanding work by Peter Paul Rubens draws the eye. French painting is a particular focus, with a room of its own dedicated to Pierre Puget, who worked in Marseille. Here you'll find both paintings and sculptures, including portrait busts of King Louis XIV.

The collection spans the entire eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Highlights include works by Jacques-Louis David, Gustave Courbet, and Jean-François Millet, covering religious themes as well as landscapes and portraits. Local artists such as Adolphe Monticelli are also prominently represented. The collection is rounded out by significant sculptures, including "Le Ratapoil" by Honoré Daumier and "The Inner Voice" by Auguste Rodin, which give visitors a deep insight into the artistic development of Europe.