400ᵉ anniversary of the French Navy

To mark the 400ᵉ anniversary of the French Navy, Les Franciscaines is celebrating this event through the prism of art, and more specifically painting, which has accompanied, documented and magnified the maritime world for centuries.

Created in 1830 under the reign of Louis-Philippe I, the Corps des Peintres Officiels de la Marine is today the oldest still active. Over time, it has opened up to new disciplines such as photography and sculpture. However, it wasn't until 1995 that a woman joined its ranks for the first time.

The Franciscaines' collections bear witness to this prestigious history, notably through major figures such as Théodore Gudin (1802-1880), appointed when the corps was created in 1830, Ludovic-Napoléon Lepic (1839-1889) and Maxime Maufra (1861-1918). But it is undoubtedly André Hambourg (1909-1999), appointed in 1952, who is the most emblematic figure here.