Sunday 20th September - Musee Reattu

We ran out of time to go and see this art gallery yesterday so decided to go before heading out of town. Jacques Reattu was a painter born and bred in Arles and did have some asperations to becoming a diplomat in Rome but Napolean put paid to that by waring with Italy so Reattu came home and started painting. The Musee was bequeathed to the city of Arles and his paintings were to be displayed for all to see.

The building was formally the Grande Priory of the Knights of Malta and Reattu bought it and the building surrounding it . Pablo Picasso was charmed by the museum and in 1971 donated 57 drawing, thus creating on of the first public collections dedicated to this artist.

One of the best letters by Vincent Van Gogh to Paul Gauguin is kept here and is the only original trace of the artists stay in Arles.