1902-2002: a century of history.
The Cezanne's Studio is 100 years old.

The Lauves Studio was built by Cézanne, who moved into it on 1 September 1902. It was here that he created his last works, oncluding Les Grandes Baigneuses, portaraits of his gardener Vallier, views of the garden and his last still lifes.
Cézanne worked here every day during the last four years of his life.

When he died in 1906 the Studio was closed and fortten, sealing the painter's everyday life within its walls.
Hits possessions are here: his painting materials, his spirit lives on in this place.
The Studio had been shut up for 15 years when Marcel Provence reawoke this "temple of Cézanne". He moved un to the ground floor of the cottage and, aware of the "spiritual value associated with this building and garden, "kept the memory of it alive for 30 years.
And yet, on his death in 1951, the Studio's existence was endangered even further by the greed of developers.
In 1952, James Lors and John Rewald created the "Cézanne Memorial Commitee" whose jubilee we are also celebrating in 2002, and raised the funds needed to purchase the Studio and save it from being destroyed as it would have been otherwise. The "American admirers of Cézanne" then donated the Studio to the University of Provence.
In 1969, the municipal authorities acquired ownership of the Studio, assigning its management to the Tourist Office in 1997.
Since then , the Studio and its restored gardens have been opened to many visitors. Cézanne would have said to them:
"That's my studio, and non one goes in exept me; but since you're a friend, let's go together."
Our thanks to those who, throughtout this century, have contributed to protecting this place where the spirit still breathers.