The Fragonard Costume and Fashion Museum, Arles

Discover the rich history of Provençal fashion and textiles through the unique Fragonard collection housed in its new museum in the south of France.

Hélène Costa's remarkable collection of Provençal costumes and jewelry from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is at the heart of the Fragonard Costume and Fashion Museum in Arles-the most recent chapter in an adventure that began in the 1950s, shaped by the collector's spirit long associated with the Costa family. Garments and accessories are presented in regular rotations at the museum, with themes that highlight the codes of regional dress: silhouettes shaped by custom, precious fabrics, and the language of adornment. Curated by Clément Trouche with Eva Lorenzini, head of collections, the displays reveal the depth and variety of this living archive, beautifully showcased in this exquisite volume.

While the kindred Museum of Provençal Costumes and Jewellery-opened in 1997 in Grasse-continues to thrive, this book unveils the new museum in Arles, an exceptionally artistic city whose creative energy offers an ideal setting for fashion and textile heritage. Enriched by the acquisition of the Magali Pascal collection, the Fragonard fashion and textile holdings have gained renewed scholarly momentum.

This sumptuously illustrated book-paying homage to the new museum, designed by the French architectural practice Studio KO-presents these historic ensembles in a contemporary environment, for the delight of aficionados of textiles, fashion, and the history of Provence.