News from the Château de Compiègne (2): the reopening of the Musée de l’Impératrice

1. Room of the death of the imperial prince
Musée de l’Impératrice, Château de Compiègne
Photo: Didier Rykner

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24/12/23 - Musée - Compiègne, château de Compiègne - The Musée de l’Impératrice in Compiègne, which has been closed for many years, reopened its doors in 2022 and its museography has been redesigned. We didn’t know about it before it closed, but the result is a great success. The rooms are located in the extension of the Musée du Second Empire (after the Carpeaux Ugolin room). Its creation dates back to the early 1950s. It was originally based on the collection of Dr François Ferrand, which was donated to the town of Compiègne, and was subsequently enriched in the inter-war period by a collection from the Château de Malmaison. The aim of the museum is to show the intimate family life of the imperial couple, up until the death of their son at the hands of the Zulus (ill. 1), from whom many souvenirs can be seen that came directly from the Empress.

2. A room in the Musée de l’Impératrice at the Château de Compiègne
Photo: Didier Rykner

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3. A room in the Musée de l’Impératrice at the Château de Compiègne
Photo: Didier Rykner

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The museography is simple but perfect (ill. 2 and 3): colourful walls as we like them (green, red and blue depending on the room), successful and discreet lighting, thanks in particular to large, thin columns of light, so discreet that they are barely noticeable, and small period rooms set up in the cabinets (ill. 4) that lead from the main rooms to the corridor that serves them (ill. 5). All of this provides a remarkable showcase for works of the highest quality, which had not been on display for a long time and which we are delighted to be able to discover in such excellent conditions.

4. A cabinet transformed into a period room in the Musée de l’Impératrice at the Château de…