Maillol Museum gives you the opportunity to see not only the largest collection of works by Aristide Maillol - outstanding French sculptor and painter, but also with the works of Cezanne, Degas, Ingres, Matisse, Picasso, Rodin, Kandinsky. With most of them Mayol, who lived a very long life, was personally acquainted and friendly.

Coming from the south of France, Maillol appeared in Paris and took up sculpture is only forty years of age. His first exhibition was visited by Rodin himself - and was delighted. Mayol received the blessing of the great master, and went their own way: he sculpted strong and calm women, its plastic was simple and natural. In 1934, the sculptor semidesyatitrёhletny met a girl of fifteen years from Chisinau Dina Verni - she became his friend, muse, artist's model.

During the occupation, Maillol and faithful had to leave Paris and settled in the south, Banyul-sur-Mer. Life here seemed almost normal, the sculptor worked. It is believed that Dean helped people fleeing from the Nazis, fled to Spain, "Mayol path" through the Pyrenees. Meanwhile in Paris, began to operate resistance, the Nazis launched a hunt for the Jews. And when the Germans occupied the whole of France, on the Jewish Dina was in mortal danger.

Perhaps in her salvation played a role is the fact that the old Mayol accepted the invitation to the opening of the exhibition in Paris, the official sculptor Arno Breker Third Reich. Brecker wrote that at the request of Maillol he achieved by Gestapo chief Mueller release of arrested Dina. But after the Liberation sculptor was accused of collaboration. In September 1944, Aristide Maillol died in a car - there is a version that it put her hands one of the resistance groups.

All their wealth and all the work of Maillol bequeathed Dina Verni. In 1964, Dean of the sculptures, which became known gallery owner, donated to France - they are installed in the Tuileries Gardens. For this it was elevated to the rank of Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor. In 1995, the Foundation Dina Verny created in an old mansion Faubourg Saint-Germain Museum Maillol. Here, on an area of ​​more than four thousand square meters are hundreds of sculptures by the master, his paintings, engravings, terracotta works of applied art.

The museum also regularly hosts exhibitions of works by many artists and sculptors from around the world.