Georges Siffredi, President of the Hauts-de-Seine Department, inaugurated the prefiguration pavilion of the Grand Siècle museum, installed in the Petit Château de Sceaux, within the Departmental Domain of Sceaux. Ambitious cultural project of the Department, the Grand Siècle museum is due to open its doors in the former Sully barracks in Saint-Cloud at the end of 2025.
The prefiguration pavilion is located in the Departmental Domain of Sceaux alongside the museum dedicated to the art of living and French taste from Louis XIV to Napoleon III.
The Petit Château will host the prefiguration mission of the Grand Siècle museum for the next four years. This was created with a triple aim: to design the scientific and cultural project of the future establishment, to develop its collections, and to finalize the architectural and scenographic project.
Built in 1661, the Petit Château of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux has been completely renovated to accommodate works from the donation of Pierre Rosenberg, as well as acquisitions from the Department, so that the public can discover them, before the opening of the Museum.
Through temporary exhibitions, the Preface Mission will present the different collections of Pierre Rosenberg: paintings, drawings, or even Murano glass animals.
Michel DORIGNY (1616-1665)
Homme barbu ailé, 22,5 x 20 cm
© Suzanne Nagy
The ambitious project of the Musée du Grand Siècle, led by the Hauts-de-Seine Department, was designed from the collection of works of art by Pierre Rosenberg. Composed of 3,500 drawings and nearly 670 paintings by artists from the 16th century to the mid-20th century, as well as 50,000 works, it will be showcased in three closely linked entities.
The Grand Siècle Museum will host part of the Rosenberg donation, the heart of which is 17th century French art, supplemented by deposits from national or regional museums, and works acquired by the Hauts-de-Seine Department. Paintings, sculptures, furniture, works of art, graphic arts ... will be presented in the main building of the former Sully barracks, showcasing a whole civilization and a spirit, while creating fruitful links between the objects.
From Henri IV to the Regency (1590 to 1725), this museum will present the history and art of the 17th century France in a thematic and educational way to the general public, as well as to primary and secondary students. By the richness and the originality of a major period of French art, the museum of the Grand Siècle will thus take the logical continuation of the museum of the Middle Ages (Cluny - 75) and the museum of the Renaissance (Ecouen - 95) .
The collectors' cabinet will exhibit the collection of Pierre Rosenberg as a whole (paintings ranging from the 16th to the 20th century, collection of Venetian glasses), then eventually, other donations. This cabinet will offer great freedom in the presentation and hanging of the works, in more intimate spaces, allowing the public to feel the spirit of the collector.
The Nicolas Poussin research center will be installed in the Officers' pavilion. It will include a drawing room (3,500 sheets ranging from the 16th to the 20th century), and the donor's library (50,000 works), as well as its rich documentation. Designed in conjunction with the territory's universities, it will offer workspaces (offices, seminar rooms), as well as a 120-seat auditorium.
This research center and reception of researchers will be dedicated to the study of the Grand Siècle in all its facets, and will allow the institution to shine outside the walls.
In addition, the Société des Amis du Musée du Grand Siècle was created in June 2021. It is chaired by Madame Clémentine Gustin-Gomez.