Musée Cantini, Art museum in Marseille, France
Musée Cantini occupies a mansion built in 1694 in downtown Marseille housing extensive modern art collections from the early twentieth century. The building contains multiple galleries displaying works across different artistic periods and styles from that era.
Jules Cantini, a marble worker and art collector, purchased the building in 1888 and donated it to Marseille in 1916. His gift established the museum, transforming a private residence into an important public art space.
The collection displays works by artists such as Kandinsky, Miró, and Ernst representing different twentieth-century movements. Visitors can explore how modern art evolved through Fauvism, Cubism, and Surrealism in the galleries.
The museum is easily accessible by public transportation and located in central Marseille. Opening times are Tuesday through Sunday, with free entry on selected days for all visitors.
A Degas pastel was stolen from the museum in 2009 but recovered in 2018 when customs officers discovered it in a bus luggage compartment. The unexpected recovery reminded visitors of the fragile nature of treasured artworks in public collections.
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