Seven works from His Serene Highness Prince Albert II’s private collection have gone on display in Paris as part of a major exhibition dedicated to Monegasque-born artist Éva Gonzalès…
The Sovereign visited the Petit Palais on Monday, September 14, accompanied by Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire and the exhibition’s curators, ahead of its public opening the following day.
Prince Albert has developed a particular interest in Gonzalès over more than a decade, gradually acquiring works by an artist whose paintings rarely appear on the market. The Princely Collections now contain around ten of her works, with seven loaned for the Paris exhibition.
Born in 1847, Gonzalès was a French artist with deep Monegasque roots. Her Spanish ancestors settled in Monaco in the early 17th century, whilst her father, novelist Emmanuel Gonzalès, is commemorated with a bust in the Saint-Martin Gardens.
Gonzalès achieved considerable recognition during her lifetime but died prematurely in 1883, aged just 34. The exhibition seeks to bring renewed attention to her work and career. It also continues Monaco’s longstanding connection with the artist. A major Gonzalès retrospective was previously held at the Sporting d’Hiver in 1952, during the early reign of Prince Rainier III.
Éva Gonzalès: The Journey of a Free Artist runs at the Petit Palais until January 24, 2027. An adapted version will then be presented at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum in spring 2027.
Image: Prince’s Palace Instagram