From Thursday 5 May to Sunday 9 October 2022
In 1892, Parisian artist Paul Signac arrived in Saint Tropez on his boat, Olympia. He chanced upon the tiny port when he ran into bad weather and needed safe harbour.
It was to become his home for the next 26 years and his presence attracted fellow artists like Matisse, Manguin, Bonnard, Derain and Seurat. A true artists’ colony developed and he wrote to his mother ‘There is enough material to work on for the rest of my days. Happiness is what I have just discovered’.
May 2022 was the 130th anniversary of the painter’s arrival and the Museum of Saint-Tropez, L’Annonciade’ has honoured his memory with the temporary exhibition ‘Signac et Saint-Tropez.’
The museum talks of his establishing ‘a real artistic breeding ground, a sort of laboratory of the avant-garde, thus conferring on Saint-Tropez an artistic fame first, then literary, cinematographic, festive, and then increasingly touristy with a jet-set varnish which has not, however, totally undermined the authenticity of the peninsula.’
Interestingly, he and his painter friends left such detailed impressions of the port and the architecture of the houses on the quay, that they were accurate guides for the reconstruction after the bombardment of the port in WW2.
The collection of local art-works was assembled in 1922 and found a home in 1955 in L’Annonciade, a 16th century chapel on the quayside. It is a delight to visit.
Alas the town’s popularity has resulted in really heavy traffic during the summer months with the road into the port often being nose-to-tail. Best to wait til September when things quieten down, or get the boat over from Sainte Maxime, a lovely journey which ensures you arrive just like Paul Signac.
Extra! Curator Séverine Berger (conservateur en chef du patrimoine) will be giving a guided tour on Monday evenings.
Details: Open 10-19:00 during the summer. Outside the holiday period, hours vary, for instance the museum closes for the whole of November, so it is safer to call first. Tel: 04 94 17 84 10 or try http://www.sainttropeztourisme.com.
aixcentric 
Great post Lynn. The idea of boating to St Trop sounds just great as an alternative to those terrible centipede crawls along the D98 from Toulon or elsewhere.
Yes we’ve taken the boat in the past and it’s great to skip across the bay and miss the traffic! Best to you both……
One of my very favorite museums! Thank you for the information.
Cheers, Ester
Ester Laushway – Secrétaire adjointe, ASAMP
630 Chemin des Vernes 13510 Eguilles
Tel: +33 (0)4 42 92 42 13 Port: +33 (0)6 09 98 78 28 Email: ester.laushway@wanadoo.fr
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YES! And it’s usually empty!
Thanks for sharing this Lynne!
It’s such a treat to visit….