#PalaisLascaris, Nice [VIDEO-PHOTO GALLERY]

History

Built in the first half of the seventeenth century and then in the eighteenth century, until 1802 it was the property of the Lascaris-Ventimiglia family. Fallen into disrepair in the early twentieth century, the palace was bought in 1942 by the city of Nice who decides to develop a regional museum of arts and popular traditions.

It is the subject of a classification as historical monument since 15th February 1946. The rehabilitation works began in 1963 and were completed in 1970 for the final opening of the palace to the public.

In 2001, the instrumental collection of the city of Nice is transferred from the Massena museum to Palais Lascaris in the intention of creating a museum of music instruments.

In 2011, the permanent exhibition of ancient musical instruments is finally opened to the public.

Description

In Genoese Baroque style, nested in an old urban fabric, the palace displays an opulent façade with the highlighting of windows and balconies by white marble balusters. Inside, at the entrance, a large vaulted hall, decorated with motifs in strong tones, participates in a nice visual effect.

A monumental staircase enclosed by arcaded galleries decorated with statues, that provides access to the first floor, with rooms used for temporary exhibitions,  presentation of arts and popular regional traditions

At the second level, called noble floor with state apartments, which keep their original ceiling decorations  with fresco paintings of the middle of the seventeenth century. The statues and the rococo decoration of the rooms were added in the eighteenth century.

Furniture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and Flemish tapestries return to the palace Lascaris its character of a private residence.

On the main floor there is a pharmacy from 1739, which includes a beautiful collection of ceramic pots (see our former article about Savona's ceramic ).

The palace now offers his permanent exhibition area to the presentation of ​​his collection of antique musical instruments, resulting from the legacy of Nice's notable Antoine Gautier (1825-1904).

Legacy Collection Antoine Gautier

 Antoine Gautier was born in Nice in 1825, the son of Joseph Octave Gautier, rich timber merchant and Felicity Rossetti, the prefect's daughter and granddaughter of Senator Rossetti. After classical studies at the Jesuit College (now Lycée Masséna), he became a lawyer.

Amateur musician Antoine Gautier plays the violin and viola, and eighteen years old ,he founded a quartet with his brother Raymond, where Antoine takes the viola part. He set his music room and its large collection of instruments in his house in the Papacino street, where he had showcases exposing gongs, Hawaiian guitars, marine trumpets, archlutes, quintons, oboe "d'amour", works of Maggini or Guarnieri, the four large desks of oak and the great Pleyel piano, making the admiration of visitors.

Many artists have attended the salon, including Jacques Thibaud and Eugène Ysaÿe; during a party in January 1902, Gabriel Fauré played several of his piano compositions. In 1903 the Quartet Gautier celebrated its 60 years.

The following year, Antoine Gautier died, bequeathing the city its instrumental collections consisting of more than 225 pieces and music library.

The article of Gautier's will regarding the legacy is succinct: "Desiring to encourage the creation in Nice, my hometown a well-organized institution of musical education, I leave to the city of Nice sixty thousand (60,000) francs and my collections of musical instruments and accessories, musical works and books on music. Only requirement is to allocate six hundred (600) annual francs to a luthier responsible for conservation of the instruments; I think luthier Mr. Francois Bovis would be most suitable for the job. "

Since the legacy of Antoine Gautier, the City of Nice continues to enrich this collection that has been exposed or kept successively in the Musée des beaux-arts, Massena Museum, at the Nice Conservatory and now in the Palais Lascaris.

Practical information

Weekly closing : Tuesday
Temporarily closed : 01/01, Pâques, 01/05, 25/12