Le Musée Schwatschke was established 1975 in Provence to exhibit some 200 paintings by John SCHWATSCHKE (b. Dublin 1943), when he had his studio in Mougins (neighbour of Picasso) 1970-76, renting a studio from French singer Serge Reggianni.

The project, which was to be a cultural centre to exhibit the artist work and hold concerts, in Valbonne, was privately encouraged by Prof. J. Lantheman (Biographer, Modigliani) Peter Wilson (Sotheby) and Iris Clert (Galerie Clert, Paris).

While the Venture was approved by the Mayor and town Council of Valbonne, it was during the establishment of the EEC, and eventually did not get the approval of the Minister of French Museums at the Louvre.

The Artist was then persuaded by C.J.Haughey (Min of Finance) to establish the project in Ireland for tax reasons, and so it was built as a private art museum near the artist’s home “The Chestnuts” on Leighlin Rd, Carlow, and opened by the Austrian Ambassador Dr. J. Nestor with Suzanne McDougald, Dublin gallery owner. (Closed 1994).

Some important paintings in the collection of Le Musée Schwatschke, Carlow

El GRECO
Oil on canvas. “Adoration of the Shepherds” (Similar to the Prado Version)

 

PICASSO
Ink, gouache “Artist and Model” 1933 (ex. Mus. Mod. Art .NY)

 

A. MODIGLIANI
“Portrait of Jean Cocteau”, charcoal on paper.