Nice showcases the iconic works of the Trachel and Rothschild families in the following three locations: the Jules Chéret Museum of Fine Arts, the Palais Lascaris, and the Masséna Museum.
Between 1888 and 1912, the Trachel and Rothschild families, both friends of the arts, donated numerous art pieces to the city of Nice. Among these pieces are archaeological objects, drawings, watercolors, paintings, sculptures, prints, as well as furniture, ceramics, and textiles.
The exhibition “Living for Art: The Trachel and Rothschild Collections” allows visitors to appreciate a large portion of the 1,700 artworks donated by the two families. The Jules Chéret Museum of Fine Arts will have the honor of showcasing them from November 24, 2023, to April 28, 2024, and the exhibition will continue until May 20 at the Palais Lascaris and the Masséna Museum. But what exactly do we have the opportunity to see?
A Family History
The Trachel and Rothschild families have played an important role in the cultural life of Nice. This exhibition invites visitors to follow the lives and adventures of the characters from these two families. It takes us through the many watercolor landscapes of Nice and across Europe to trace their journeys. The Jules Chéret Museum of Fine Arts offers a prelude to what the exhibition provides, with around 250 artworks displayed on the upper floor.
The travels of Hercule Trachel are notably well represented; we follow him across Europe, through Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, France, and finally Italy, of course. During his expeditions, he collected numerous art pieces and used his talent to create watercolors himself. Venice was his main muse, a city he elevated with his paintings and proven talent for landscapes. It’s also worth noting that Hercule played a significant role in the Nice art scene. Indeed, he was often commissioned to create wall decorations in villas located along the Cours Saleya and the hills of Fabron.
The Trachel and Rothschild families were not only donors but also artists, being antiquarians, art advisors, professors in all fields of art, people engaged in artistic circles, and theater actors who brought the cultural scene to life in the 19th century.
A Niçoise Pride
The history of friendship between the Trachel and Rothschild families is emblematic of Nice’s history. The Rothschild family donated more than 130,000 artworks throughout its history but never had such a strong bond with another family, except here in Nice with the Trachel family. This is why these two families set out to develop the arts in Nice. Local artists found support in these two families, making Nice the creative and cultural hub that we know today. This exhibition allows us to deepen our discovery of the museum collections, further anchoring Nice among the great cultural cities.
All our museum institutions are essential in helping us understand the world around us. Robert Roux, Deputy Mayor in charge of Culture, says, “There is a climate emergency, and there is also a cultural emergency. Because it is through culture that we will be able to understand and provide notions of tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of other cultures. It is through culture that we will develop the imagination, the imagination that drives us to envision a better world.” Nice and the Côte d’Azur are taking giant leaps in the field of culture.
