Musée Magnin: A Glimpse into 17th-Century Dijon

The Musée Magnin, nestled in the heart of Dijon, is a captivating journey through art history and a peek into the lives of passionate collectors. The museum is located in the Hôtel Lantin, a beautiful 17th-century private mansion that once belonged to the Magnin family. Inaugurated in 1938, the Musée Magnin is home to the collection of approximately 2,000 works of art gathered by Jeanne and Maurice Magnin, and later bequeathed to the French State.Maurice (1861-1939) and Jeanne (1855-1937) Magnin were siblings with a shared passion for art. Maurice, a magistrate, and Jeanne, an amateur painter and art critic, dedicated their lives to amassing a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture, and objets d'art. Their collection spans from the 14th to the early 20th centuries, with a focus on French, Italian, and Northern European schools. The collection is displayed in the spirit of an amateur collector's cabinet and a lived-in family home.The museum's collection includes Italian paintings, particularly from the Venetian, Lombard, and Neapolitan schools. Northern European art is represented through works by Pieter Lastman, Jan van Bijlert, and Bartholomeus van der Helst. French art holds a special place in the collection, with an exceptional group of 17th-century works by artists like Eustache Le Sueur, Laurent de La Hyre, and Sébastien Bourdon. Sketches from the 18th and 19th centuries, along with intimate paintings, also feature prominently.The Musée Magnin offers free admission to its permanent collection. Visitors can explore the rooms of the Hôtel Lantin, admiring the art and imagining the lives of the Magnin family. Guided tours are available for a fee, providing deeper insights into the collection and the history of the building.