Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille

Overview

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille occupies the left wing of the monumental Palais Longchamp, housing a collection spanning the 16th to 19th centuries. Its Provençal and Italian painting galleries are particularly strong, complemented by French and Flemish masters.

Highlights

• Provençal Masters: Works by Françoise Duparc and Michel Serre, including Serre's dramatic depictions of the 1720 plague.
• Italian Collection: Important 16th- and 17th-century paintings, including works by Perugino and Guercino.
• The Setting: The palatial Longchamp wing provides a grand architectural backdrop for the collection.

History

The museum was founded in 1801 under Napoleon's decrees creating regional museums. It moved to the Palais Longchamp upon its completion in 1869. The collection was extensively renovated and rehung in 2013.

Visitor Tips

• Combined Visit: A ticket covers both the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Natural History Museum in the opposite wing.
• The Cascade: Don't miss the spectacular fountain and colonnade between the two museum wings.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.