Founded in 1825 by the painter François-Xavier Fabre, and totally renovated to the tune of €61 million between 2002 and 2007, this landmark museum houses one of France’s richest collections of European art.
The galleries are split into three main sections: Old Masters, Modern Movements and Decorative Arts, collectively representing the last 600 years of artistic activity in Europe. Most of the big names are represented, and the renovation has transformed the museum into a light, airy and engaging space.
Highlights of the Old Masters include three paintings by Rubens, a dreamy Venus & Adonis by Nicholas Poussin, and a collection of works by Jacques-Louis David. The Romantic section is strong on French artists – particularly Delacroix, Géricault and Gustave Courbet – while the modern section is somewhat slimmer, with Manet, Degas and Delaunay the standout names.
Of particular local interest are the works of the Marseille-born artist Fréderic Bazille (1841–70), a close contemporary of Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Édouard Manet. The artist has a whole room devoted to him: look out for his portrait of Renoir, seated on a chair with legs tucked up beneath him, and a moody portrait of the artist himself by a very young Monet. Tragically, Bazille’s potential was never fulfilled; he died aged just 28 in a battle during the Franco-Prussian War.
Attached to the museum is L’Hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran , a lavish Montpellier mansion that belonged to the local notable, Madame Frédéric Sabatier d’Espeyran. The interior of the house is filled with incredible ceramics, furniture and objets d’art – an evocative reminder of the fabulous wealth enjoyed by Montpellier’s elite during the late 19th century.
