The Paul Arbaud museum is located at Aix-en-Provence, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. It is housed in a 19th century private mansion, in the city center, in the Mazarin district.
The building was the property of Paul Arbaud (1831-1911), art collector, bibliophile and patron. In addition to the museum founded by this local figure, the site is also the seat of the Academy of Sciences, Agriculture, Arts and Belles-Lettres of Aix-en-Provence.
The establishment's fund is made up of collections put together by its founder, embracing different disciplines (fine arts, earthenware, etc.) and legacies made for the benefit of the museum and the Academy over time.
Among the works, documents and objects presented are a Flemish triptych from the 14th century representing the Adoration of the Kings, portraits of the Mirabeau family, paintings by regional artists, 18th century earthenware from Moustiers- Sainte-Marie (the Arbaud family had a residence in the region) but also Apt, Avignon… and Germany. A rich library containing 1600 books and manuscripts is one of the other treasures of the museum, which is a perfect testimony to the tastes in force in the second half of the 19th century and to the eclecticism of the cultivated minds of the time.
Private archives (including those also from the Mirabeau family) are also preserved.
Open to the public by reservation from Wednesday to Saturday. Price: 5 euro. Information on +33 4 42 38 38 95.
