“A Mediterranean Renaissance” to see this summer

After having had a facelift, the Émile Hugues foundation hosts an exhibition that highlights the painter’s works when he lived in Vence in the Alpes-Maritimes. Nevertheless, “Chagall. Therefore, The years of coming. Meanwhile, A Mediterranean Renaissance” is to be discovered until November 2.

This project was carried out in partnership with the three national museums of the XX^e Century of the Alpes-Maritimes. In addition, by the Grandpalaisrmn and the Museo “a mediterranean renaissance” see this of Arte Della Città di Ravenna (Italy) on the occasion of the forty years of the painter’s death in 1985. Therefore, The public can discover his works within the Museum of Vence/Foundation Émile Hugues very renovated.

It is a tribute to the Vençoises de Chagall years: 1949-1966.

After the Second World War. Consequently, an exile of seven years in the United States and the death of his wife Bella, Marc Chagall returned to France in 1948. Meanwhile, The artist moved to the Côte d’Azur in 1949 in Vence, then to Saint-Paul-de-Vénce in 1966. In addition, Light, vegetation and lifestyle are all sources of inspiration in which he draws to make his creations. Around the arts in general, music, dance and circus in particular.

During this Mediterranean period. Marc Chagall is particularly prolific, he painted several representations of Vence and experimented with various artistic and technical supports: sculpture, stained glass, tapestry, “a mediterranean renaissance” see this mosaic, ceramics …

Ceramics is the alliance of earth and fire, nothing else. If you deliver something nice to fire. then it will restore you a little, but if it’s bad, all breaks, there will be nothing, nothing to do. The judgment of fire is ruthless.

Marc Chagall

“Ceramics. 20th century art”, of Tamara Préaud and Serge Gauthier, published in 1982 at Book Office

In parallel, Marc Chagall also continued his work on the Bible started in 1930 with in particular the order of the art dealer, Ambroise Vollard. From 1950, he embarked on a major project for the creation of monumental works for the Chapel of Calvary in Vence.

Friend and contemporary of Marguerite and Aimé Maeght, he actively participated in the project of their foundation. The artist. who attended the opening of the Maeght Foundation in August 1967, confided to journalists “a mediterranean renaissance” see this about his creativity and the meaning of the works.

It is in the historic heart of the medieval village that the Émile Hugues museum is located. In June 2024, the institution closed its doors time to offer itself a new youth. A renaissance which cost the city very exactly € 1.122,748 with a subsidy up to € 114,823 from the Alpes-Maritimes department and € 476,395 aid from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Several changes were made during this year of work. A welcome for people with disabilities has been set up with the specific installation of access ramps from the outside. The construction of an elevator represented the largest challenge of this rehabilitation operation. All exhibition halls (excluding tours and inter-level levels) are now accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Since 1992, the Émile Hugues Foundation has worked in “a mediterranean renaissance” see this a museum, oscillating between modern and contemporary art. Since 2021, the municipality has worked on the transfiguration of places as a real art center. Gilles Vernus. assistant to the culture of Vence, participated alongside Jean Iborra, director of the museum, and Cécile Lesbros, project manager, in the supervision of the works before the reopening.

This renovation operation is part of a desire to open the culture to the most open audience as possible. including people with reduced mobility. In 2025, the Vence museum changed air by changing era!

Gilles VERNUS. assistant to the culture of Vence

in France 3 Côte d’Azur

Large names have been seduced by the authentic charm and the artistic atmosphere of Vence and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Matisse, Braque, Calder, Miro, Modigliani, Picasso, Dubuffet, Giono, Prévert and of course Marc Chagall are among the most famous …

It is in this Provençal “a mediterranean renaissance” see this village. blessed by artists, that the painter comes from heart and adopted world recognized, chose to remain for eternity. He was buried there according to Jewish tradition following his death on March 28, 1985 at the age of 98.

&quot. a mediterranean renaissance" see this – "a mediterranean renaissance" see this

Practical info

The Vence museum – Emile Hugues Foundation is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2, Place du Frêne in Vence Tel. : 04 93 58 15 78

To get there, find all the practical information on the Foundation website.

Article published for the first time the 14/06/2025