On December 23, the City Council of Nice accepted the donation made by Jean Ferrero, founder of the gallery of the same name in Nice, photographer and actor of the artistic life in Nice over the last fifty years.
This donation of 853 works includes pieces by artists such as Arman, César, and Ben. The donation agreement specifically stipulates that the works will be exhibited to the public in Nice, in a dedicated space, the former Urban Planning Forum.
An accurate and revealing reflection of the artistic proliferation of the period that saw the birth and assertion of the École de Nice, the works of this donation have significant historical and patrimonial interest (the whole collection is estimated at 2,500,000 euros).
The official act of donation was signed yesterday at the site of the former Urban Planning Forum (Place Pierre Gautier). From this day on, about forty works from the Ferrero collection will be presented permanently (every day except Tuesday, from 10 am to 6 pm).
Furthermore, this donation presents a definite historical interest for the understanding of the history of the École de Nice. Indeed, Jean Ferrero, founder of the gallery of the same name, was a privileged witness of the artistic movements that emerged under the generic term “École de Nice” in our city.
Thanks to the proximity and friendship he had with the artists of this movement, his collection offers an accurate and revealing reflection of the artistic flourishing of this period.
Jean Ferrero was born in Nice on March 1, 1931, to an Italian immigrant father and a French mother. A fervent photography enthusiast, he began his professional career working as a “photostopper,” notably on the Promenade des Anglais, then became a reporter for newspapers (le Patriote, Nice-Matin, la Stampa) and various agencies. He would continue this activity until 1975.
Obsessed, he accumulated paintings, sculptures, African art… This purchasing frenzy pushed him towards the art profession in its entirety, and he opened his first major gallery at the port of Nice, followed by one on Rue de France and the large space on Rue du Congrès. His space became the essential meeting place for contemporary artists and art dealers. In 2003, he sold his business
