Summary



The Chateau Grimaldi which houses the Picasso Museum and has been closed for several months opened its doors once more on Saturday 19 July. After the official inauguration by Christine Albanel, Minister of Culture and Communication, the museum was open to visitors who were able to see the new features of the museum and view works by Picasso, De Stael, Richier and Hartung as well as the collection of works by contemporary artists.




Antibes Juan-les-Pins council owns the museum which became a listed historic monument in 1928. The renovation programme consisted of restructuring the interior of the museum and restoration of outside walls.

The operation centred around several priority areas: ensuring the building was fireproof and secure, improvement of public reception areas and improved access for persons of reduced mobility as well as climate control metres and areas set aside for security guards.

Reception areas that ensure the comfort of the public and staff are on the ground floor, the entire area having been renovated with the exception of the bookshop and the Hartung/Bergman foundation exhibition of work.

On upper floors the relocation of offices and document rooms has permitted the entire area to be converted to exhibition space and in some cases the rooms have been restored to their original dimensions by removal of partition walls, such as the large gallery on the second floor where Picasso worked in 1946.

The extensive restructuring allows for more comprehensive tours with improved circulation of visitors through the galleries, notably due to the new picture windows along the walls.




Images 3D / Accueil et vestiaire du musée Picasso. Agence Pierre-Antoine Gatier, Paris
© Musée Picasso, Antibes

The entrance to the museum remains unchanged with access by the ramp from Place Mariejol. The reception area and cloakrooms are situated adjacent to each other. Entrance to the different areas of the museum from the terrace is arranged for ease of circulation. The museum visit starts in the vaulted galleries of the Hartung/Bergman foundation and follows up the large staircase, or in the case of persons of reduced mobility, the new lift.

The first floor houses temporary collections and in the “Dor de la Souchère” gallery the Nicolas de Stael collection.

The second floor is defined as the “Picasso floor” as the entire area is dedicated to a permanent collection of Picasso’s work. It is displayed in the large gallery that served as his studio in 1946. Embedded in the wall is his “Keys of Antibes”, just like a signature of the Master Builder. From this area visitors go down the small 17th century staircase where the bookshop-boutique is located at the bottom with a large choice of books and cards.

The exit is from the terrace into the renovated sculpture garden where the caladium stands that was planned in 1948 but never carried out, and from there along a footbridge built on the North Wing.

The renovations have been successful on three counts: restoration of an important architectural historic monument, improvement of conditions for conservation and general improvement of reception facilities for visitors.