Renoir, Signac, Marquet, Valtat: the Albert-André de Bagnols museums of secular sacred art in Pont-Saint-Esprit have collections overflowing with the works of renowned painters. Collections that the Departmental Council, which inherited them, highlights through an event exhibition within the two museums, entitled “From Renoir to Van Dongen”. The opportunity to discover masterpieces previously stored in reserves and never exhibited.
“When I arrived at the head of Departmental Conservation, I was surprised to discover such works in the permanent collection”replays Conservation Director Lucienne Del’Furia. Between the Albert-André museum, which was in its time, under the leadership of the painter who will give it its name, “the first modern art museum in the Province”recalls the vice-president of the Department for Culture Patrick Malavieille, and the museum of sacred art, of which “many are unaware that many Renoirs and Valtats are preserved within its walls”he adds, there is something to exhibit.
Notably a superb view of Laudun painted by Auguste Renoir at the home of his friend Albert André, which most painting lovers will discover during this exhibition in Pont-Saint-Esprit, and generally “all these works that we have heard about for a long time”summarizes the president of the Gard Rhone Agglomeration Jean-Christian Rey. But not only that.
On the occasion of a refresh of the Albert-André museum and significant changes to the visit route, “everything is better highlighted, we rediscover works”enthuses the mayor of Bagnols Jean-Yves Chapelet. Notably the Tahitian mask by Paul Gauguin, paintings by Kees Van Dongen, Suzanne Valadon or Albert Marquet or even sculptures, like “l’Implorante” by Camille Claudel, which alone were already worth the trip to the second floor of the town hall. And the exhibition, which takes place in the temporary exhibition room of the sacred art museum of Pont-Saint-Esprit, allows us to highlight “a special light on the city with works of such quality”underlines the mayor of Pont-Saint-Esprit Valère Segal.
Tribute to museum benefactors
The exhibition also allows us to understand how such collections ended up, decades ago, in towns like Bagnols and Pont-Saint-Esprit, far from the prestigious museums of Paris or large metropolises. “This exhibition, so unique and at the same time plural, retraces in a good way the history of successive donations”explains Patrick Malavieille. Donations from the local scholar Léon Alègre, who created the first museum in Bagnols, then from Albert André, from his adopted daughter Jacqueline Bret-André then from George Besson, business manager who became an art critic. The exhibition also allows us to forge an unwavering link between the museums of Bagnols and Pont-Saint-Esprit.
The quality of the works already exhibited but also those stored in the reserves convinced Lucienne Del’Furia, followed by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs and the town of Bagnols, to “show them without delay”. Without waiting to have “an establishment that would showcase them as they should”she adds, evoking the (distant) project for a new museum which she “caresses hope”. In the meantime, choices had to be made to keep only “140 works on the two establishments”she specifies. “It’s a great collaboration between the two museums, a successful first, I hope it won’t be the last”will launch the deputy mayor of Bagnols delegate for Culture Michel Cegielski.
The elected official hopes that this exhibition event, and the expense it has caused at the Albert-André museum, will be able to boost its attendance. “I was surprised at the lack of attendance at the Bagnols museum, and also surprised to see the paintings still in the same placehe plays again. But when there is a desire to succeed, we succeed, and it is the same at the political level. » It remains that “times are difficult for local authorities”recalls Patrick Malavieille who nevertheless believes, “No offense to accountants, culture has a cost, but it has no price. » And for visitors to this exhibition, it is truly priceless: entry to the Bagnols and Pont museums is free.
“From Renoir to Van Dongen” can be discovered until May 4, 2025 at the Albert-André museum in Bagnols and at the secular museum of sacred art in Pont-Saint-Esprit. Free entry. The sacred art museum is open every day except Monday and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., that of Bagnols is closed on Sunday, Monday and public holidays and opens from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cultural programming and workshops for families and adults are offered throughout the exhibition.
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