L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
Right next door to the Fabre Museum is the Hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, a town house, which says it is dedicated to decorative arts. That could mean anything, and in this case it means that they have 19th century rooms, and a basement area with ceramics and metalwork.
The house was built in 1873/4 by Count Charles Despous de Paul, and bequeathed to the city of Montpellier by his grand-daughter-in-law, Mrs Frédéric Sabatier d’Espeyran, in 1967. It has been recently restored to show off a bourgeois Montpellier home, with many of the pieces belonging to the family.
When I visited, there was a big exhibition on Picasso at the Fabre, and some of it had spilled over to the Hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran. I really don’t want to have to keep writing that, so I’m going to refer to the building at the Hôtel. Anyway, for this reason, the ceramics and gold and silverware which is usually on show wasn’t – except for a few token pots.
Pot de monstre, c1650-1660, Atelier of Pierre Favier the Younger, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
Moving through to the house proper, there’s a very grand staircase which leads up to the period rooms. The 1st floor is dedicated to recreating the interiors of the house as they were at the end of the 19th century, in the Count’s day.
The grand staircase of l’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The Red Salon is an impressive reception room covered in red brocade. The paintings, which you can’t really see because they’re at the far end of the room, are 18th century works by Tiebout Regters and show the Dutch ancestors of the Countess Despous de Paul.
The Red Salon, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The Red Salon, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The Green salon is more delicate, and 18th century inspired, which is probably why I liked it the best.
The fireplace in the Green Salon, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The Green Salon, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The dining room comes next, and goes for a 17th century vibe. The furniture is from that period, with a few 19th century contributions (like the painting by Ferdinand Roybet above the cabinet), while the wallpaper was painted, made by the Balin factory in Paris, and imitating the 17th century fashion for embossed and gilded leather wall-coverings.
The Dining Room, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
Portrait of François Sabatier, 1838, Eugene François Marie Joseph Deveria, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
Next we go to the second floor, which is all about 18th century furniture. Apparently Mrs Frédéric Sabatier d’Espeyran’s wishes were that the furniture and objects d’art in her Parisian apartment should be displayed here. A 2002 bequest from a local antique dealer, Jean-Pierre Rouayroux, added to the collection, and the museum is proud of the fact that it now has a collection which shows the evolution of French furniture.
Except I didn’t really get that, particularly since the rooms are done up in much the same way as downstairs, so you don’t get a sense of the priority of the furniture.
A bust with no name, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The bedroom is dedicated to the 18th century. It’s quite elegant, but not as harmonious as I think it’s trying to be.
The Bedroom, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The Study is the same. It’s aiming at being Neo-classical and again, I felt that it wasn’t quite right. The only interesting point was the spiral staircase in the corner – leading nowhere, I should add.
Corner of the Study, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
Looking down the stairs, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France
The corridor joining two houses, L’hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d’Espeyran, Montpellier, France. The adjoining building apparently still belongs to the family.
So In Summary
Further Information
They have a very detailed website in English: www.museefabre-en.montpellier3m.fr
How To Get There
Being right next to the Fabre Museum, the Hôtel is easy to get to from there. Both museums are also very centrally located in the old area of Montpellier, so you can walk to them from most points. For local transport information, check out the local transport site (French only) – the link will take you to a map which shows the lines and bus stops: www.tam.cartographie.pro
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