Art at the Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau
Discover the artistic diversity of the collections at the Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau.
While the Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau is renowned for its ethnographic focus, the collections also include certain objects, handiworks, and works of art. Each creation, whether it is a drawing or three dimensional model, is a pertinent method of documenting, illustrating, but especially celebrating this rich cultural maritime heritage.
Dual representation of Etienne Guillou (1818–1887). Mayor of Concarneau, he was known for his inventions for boats and in fishing, his numerous rescues, and his navigation treaties. He was also a harbor pilot, in other words he took over from ship captains to steer ships into port when they were not familiar with the port. Left, an oil painting on canvas by the painter Alfred Guillou, son of Etienne. Right, a bronze bust created by Antonin Mercié.
Le Vétéran échappant à l’escadre anglaise (1964) by Charles ViaudMusée de la Pêche
A veteran afloat
This painting, created by the curator of the museum himself, illustrated a notable event in the history of Concarneau at the beginning of the 19th century.
The Vétéran, a French vessel that left the port city of Brest on December 13, 1805, was blockaded by English ships off the coast of the Glénan Islands during the night of August 26, 1806.
Jean-Marie Furic, a sailor from Concarneau, succeeded in steering the ship near Beg-Meil. A few days later, the boat was docked near the Ville Close.
Nineteenth century artists, with Louis Garneray leading, seized on the theme of fishing. Their prints have been reproduced in numerous works and periodicals or published in larger formats.
The museum's art collections come mostly from personal donations. René Goulet, for example, donated to the museum a series of four engravings in 1971.
Portrait de sardinière de Concarneau (1910) by Henri GuinierMusée de la Pêche
Sardine Fishermen of Concarneau (La Sardinière de Concarneau)
A painter who became president of the Union artistique des Amis de Concarneau, Henri Guinier (1867–1927) painted many portraits.
We can see here the cap worn by the Penn Sardin, who were the cannery workers of south Finistère.
Charles Henri Fromuth is an American painter born in 1866 in Philadelphia, who died in 1937 in Concarneau. Here, he produced a study for one of the chariots of the famous Fête des Filets bleus of Concarneau.
Jeune marin regardant la mer by Henri Pierre CunyMusée de la Pêche
Young sailor looking out to sea
A descendant of the painter Henri Cuny, born in Concarneau in 1880, donated to the museum a collection of 19 small oil paintings on cardboard and one oil painting on canvas.
Pêcheurs de palourdes à Penmarc'h by Henri Pierre CunyMusée de la Pêche
Clam fishermen in Penmarc'h
Mathurin Méheut (1882–1958), who had already drawn animals, moved to Roscoff in 1910, near the Marine Station of the museum. He came to observe marine life to illustrate articles on the sea written by Pillard-Verneuil. The work Étude de la Mer (Study of the Sea), originally published in 1913, brings together his artistic and naturalistic boards.
This poster was published thanks to the Concarneau support fund for the families of sailors lost at sea. It reproduces a board by Marin-Marie from the 1957 work Pêcheurs des Quatre Mers (Fishermen of the Four Seas) by Roger Vercel.
L'industrie de la conserve (1961) by Jean-Claude TaburetMusée de la Pêche
Four earthenware panels
Four panels created by the ceramic sculptor, Jean-Claude Taburet of the Henriot potteries, are displayed in the cannery space of the Musée de la Pêche.
They were conceived at the request of Louis Le Bossé, owner of the Boîtes Métalliques d'Arvor, which manufactures tin cans, to decorate the entrance hall of the museum.
They represent the richness of Brittany and Concarneau and pay homage to the work of the women in the canneries.
Paul Lengellé (1908–1993) was an Official Painter for air and space. But he was also interested in fishing. The museum has two paintings depicting tuna fishing sail boats.
Gyotaku is a technique used by Japanese fishermen since the 19th century, inspired by famous Japanese prints. To commemorate their exceptional catches, the sailors used ink to make an imprint of the fish and added the date and fishing location.
Hervé Gloux, curator of the Musée de la Pêche from 1975 to 1995, has painted very large panels to decorate spaces and illustrate the world of fishing. This painting is 8.5 feet (2.6 m) long and can be found at the entrance of the museum.
