National Museum
Musée national de Malmaison et Bois-Préau
Musée national de Malmaison et Bois-Préau is a national museum in Rueil-Malmaison, France.
About Musée national de Malmaison et Bois-Préau
Overview & Identity
The Musée national des châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau is a French national museum located in Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine. It is dedicated to the history of the First French Empire, specifically focusing on the life of Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, her children Eugène and Hortense, and Napoleon Bonaparte during his time as General and First Consul. The museum complex comprises two distinct sites: the Château de Malmaison, the primary residence of the couple, and the Château de Bois-Préau, which serves as an annex. The institution is part of a larger network of Napoleonic museums, including sites in Île d'Aix and Ajaccio, and is managed by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux.
History & Founding
The museum's origins are rooted in the 19th-century efforts to preserve the memory of the Bonaparte family. In 1861, Napoleon III, Josephine's grandson, purchased the Malmaison estate, which had been sold off after the Revolution, and initiated a restoration to recreate the Empress's apartments using authentic documents. Following the fall of the Second Empire in 1870, the property was sold and fell into disrepair. In 1896, the philanthropist Daniel Iffla, known as Osiris, purchased the ruined château and its reduced park. He undertook significant restoration work, removing dilapidated partitions to create exhibition spaces, and donated the estate to the French State in 1903. The museum officially opened to the public in 1905. It was designated a national museum in 1927, and the Bois-Préau estate was added to its jurisdiction in 1926 after being donated by Edward and Julia Tuck.
Building & Architecture
The Château de Malmaison was originally built in the 17th century as a modest country house. It was significantly expanded and transformed by Josephine and Napoleon between 1799 and 1814, who added wings and modernized the interiors to reflect the Empire style. The Château de Bois-Préau, originally a 17th-century fiefdom of the Abbey of St. Denis, was developed into a residence between 1697 and 1700 by the Léonard family. It was later acquired by Josephine in 1810 to expand her estate, allowing her to move between the two properties without leaving her grounds. In the mid-19th century, under the ownership of Edouard Rodrigues-Henriques, the central part of Bois-Préau was rebuilt in 1854, likely by architect Alfred-Louis Feydeau, while the wings were demolished. The estate is set within a 17-hectare English-style park.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The museum's collections are primarily focused on the First Empire and the personal belongings of Josephine and her family. The holdings include furniture, sculptures, paintings, and everyday objects that were either owned by the Bonapartes or created to commemorate them. Notable items include a set of five glasses, a plate with the initials 'JNB' (Josephine Napoleon Bonaparte), and two cash journals of Queen Hortense. The collection also features a statue titled 'L'Amour prêt à lancer un trait' (Cupid ready to launch an arrow) by Gabriel Vital Dubray, created in 1865 and entered the museum's collections in 1932. The museum displays a selection of 30 emblematic works that illustrate the life at Malmaison, ranging from Empire-style armchairs and X-shaped stools to Pompeian-style decorative dancers.
Significance & Legacy
The Musée national des châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau holds a unique position in French cultural heritage as the primary site dedicated to Josephine de Beauharnais and the domestic life of the First Consul. Unlike other Napoleonic museums that focus on military campaigns or the Second Empire, Malmaison offers an intimate view of the imperial family's private life, their artistic tastes, and their connection to nature. The museum serves as a crucial repository for objects related to the early 19th century, preserving the memory of the estate where Josephine died in 1814. Its role as a national museum ensures the conservation of these historical artifacts and the continued study of the Napoleonic era, complementing the collections at Compiègne (Second Empire) and Fontainebleau (Napoleon I).