Beauvais, the Mudo reopens in a restored building

Beauvais. First seat of the bishop of Beauvais then court, then museum, the 16th century building which houses the Museum of Oise (Mudo) experienced several lives of which he retains traces. Partially restored in 2015, it reopened at the end of March 2025 after two and a half years of work intended to restore its identity to the second floor while modifying the visit route. If the first floor offers a barely revamped course centered on religious art in the 19th century and the history of the great political canvas of Thomas Couture (1848-1852), the second floor had a facelift to present Art Nouveau furniture and the canvases of the 20th century: the previous course, where no furniture was not, had not been modified “Since 1981” According to Alexandre Estaquet-Legrand, director of Mudo. In addition to a room devoted to symbolism and ceramics, the course extends over several large rooms, the first of which is devoted to sets of Art Nouveau furniture, “Typical elements of the beautiful era spirit, never exposed so far”according to the director. This specifies that the exhibition modules were made to measure with the scenographers to allow fluid circulation, despite the ground surface they occupy. These modules respond with their curved forms to the Ovoid room seats which dot the route and give it a poetic touch. Art Nouveau furniture with flamboyant patterns (parrots, flowers) constitute the culmination of the first part of the route.

From the Great War to the Second World War, the course then unfolds the history of the 20th century with fairly exceptional pieces, from Vallotton, Denis, Dufy, Picabia, Hélion and Lempicka. The Mudo collections therefore reveal their wealth, including graphic arts, a small selection of which is available in side rooms. All the rooms have walls covered with dual gray skin with discreet geometric patterns which covers the original walls. The gray shade declined in nuances remains fairly close to that “XVIII woodworke century “ From the Great War room, according to the director. These woodwork was also kept during the catering: in this new route, the architecture of the building is indeed skillfully integrated, although the site has reserved some surprises according to the heritage architect Charlotte Langlois. She quotes for example “XII masonry coverse or XIIIe century, and others from the XIXe century, not documented despite the diagnosis made in 2019 ». Restoration had to combine “ valuation of different periods and adaptation to the new museography ” According to Charlotte Langlois, a fundamental aspect for the second floor which housed the private apartments of the bishop and therefore has beautiful volumes to enhance.

The total cost of work is 3.55 million euros, the state of which has financed the essentials via the national land development and development fund (€ 1.2 million). The reopening seems to dopy the ambitions of Alexandre Estaquet-Legrand which announces regular temporary exhibitions in the towers of the entrance chatelet, and a project for the third floor where the visit would relate to “Architectural interest” Since space is not suitable for the presentation of works.