A year after the passing of Jean-François Costa, former President of Fragonard Parfumerie, a tribute is paid to their passion by presenting their collections to the public. This exhibition traces the history of a family passion for Provence and the 18th century.
Situated in two neighboring locations: the Jean-Honoré Fragonard Museum and the Provençal Costume and Jewelry Museum, the exhibition invites visitors to delve into the intimacy of a couple of collectors.
At the Fragonard Museum, four rooms from their house, le Bois Dormant, are recreated: the dining room, the living room, the study, and Jean-François Costa’s bedroom.
Offering a contemporary view on this world, Conversation Piece, an installation in the form of a mural by the English artist Carolyn Quartermaine is presented in the ground floor garden room of the Fragonard Museum.
At the Costume and Jewelry Museum, Hélène Costa’s favorite pieces are on display, including Provençal outfits from the 18th and 19th centuries that belonged to her ancestors or were worn by her in her youth.
In total, there are about sixty exceptional pieces: painted works by the greatest masters of the 18th and 19th centuries, 18th-century Provençal furniture, as well as Hélène Costa’s rare collection of 18th and early 19th-century Provençal costumes and jewelry, that the two museums showcase.
