Raphael Cordoba’s Museum for all

The Albi painter Raphaël CORDOBA dedicated 25 years of his life to pay tribute to the greatest painters in history from the 14th to the 20th centuries. 65 paintings are exhibited in the round tower of the Hotel de Saunal, a former Renaissance merchant’s mansion located close to the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and the cloister of the Saint Salvi Collegiate Church.

A MUSEUM FOR ALL : A HUMANIST APPROACH

“A Museum for All” : that was Raphaël Cordoba's aim, who wanted to share his passion and respect for the greatest artists with as many people as possible. He is driven by the desire to interest visitors in art. His personal experience led him to capture the attention of children and teenagers and to reveal their artistic talent. The pleasure of the eye leads to the pleasure of the heart.

These are not copies but re-creations. Go to the essential of a painting and make it visible, that's the Art.

A CONSIDERABLE WORK, AN UNEXPECTED PATH IN THE PAST

The visit is led by Catherine Cordoba, the painter’s daughter. She welcomes you in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Saunal and takes you on a tour back in the 16th century to discover the famous works of Bruegel, Dürer, Botticelli, Van Gogh, Dali, Toulouse-Lautrec, Ingres and Léonard de Vinci. A brief nod from the artist, under each painting, guides visitors... Raphaël Cordoba created the self-portraits of each painter and presents their biography and the place where we can see the original. The visit lasts 45 minutes.

... 6 centuries of painting exhibited in the largest museums in the world and reincarnated in one space at once, in the Museum for All in Albi ...

THE HOTEL DE SAUNAL

The Hôtel de Saunal is one of the former pastel merchants’ mansions in Vieil Alby. This beautiful building was the residence of Simon Saunal, a wealthy pastel merchant from the 16th century, whose family dealt not only in pastel trade, but also in hats, leather, wool and salt. This respected man was 'consul' of the city of Albi no fewer than 4 times. The two Saunal daughters married the two Reynes' sons, thus uniting the fate of two great Albi families. From the street you can see the watchtower overlooking the roofs. This architectural element, a symbol of social success, is presented in many pastel merchants' mansions of the Renaissance.