Gustave Fayet links Paris to hidden traces at Fontfroide
· BehindLines newsroom
In Paris, Fondation Louis Vuitton has scheduled its Gustave Fayet exhibition from 9 October 2026 to 8 March 2027. Fontfroide confirms the dates and connects the collector to the history of the abbey near Narbonne. The exhibition has already begun; its interest for visitors lies partly in the relationship between works displayed in the capital and the place for which some of their settings were made. Exhibition ; Fontfroide
A collector with an artistic practice
The Paris presentation brings works collected by Fayet together with his own creations. Alongside painting and watercolour, his practice extended to ceramics, textiles and carpets. Seeing these activities together offers a way to consider exchanges between fine art and decorative art, beyond the act of acquiring pictures. LVMH describes this combination in its account of the exhibition. Overview
Odilon Redon has a particular role in the story. The Fondation displays decorations made for Fontfroide’s library, including Le Jour and La Nuit. Moving the panels has also changed what can be seen at the abbey itself. Display
What appeared behind a panel
Fontfroide and the Association du Musée d’Art Gustave Fayet explain that removing La Nuit revealed sketches painted by Redon directly onto the stone. They had been hidden behind the panel for more than a century. This discovery belongs to preparations for the exhibition; it is not a newly announced discovery dated 27 October. Association
Fontfroide also announces three works by Omar Ba and Bernard Frize from the Fondation Louis Vuitton collection in the library. Their presence accompanies Redon’s traces, allowing the room to sustain an artistic programme while the decorations are on loan. Narbonne programme
The two locations therefore offer complementary views of how artworks travel. Exhibition dates alone do not confirm access on a particular day. Check the visiting arrangements for each venue before travelling; opening hours and available tickets are not guaranteed here.