Caroline, Princess of Hanover on Tuesday inaugurated the restored artwork by Roger Capron, reinstalled in the Galerie des Salines.
Created in 1968 by French artist Roger Capron, this ceramic décor, depicting a marine universe and originally consisting of 29 glazed terracotta panels, was designed for the façades of the premises located beneath the Larvotto promenade until 2019. The artist presented various stylised visions of Mediterranean seabeds, featuring fish, algae, and crustaceans.
As part of the Larvotto beach restructuring works initiated in September 2019, an extensive conservation and restoration project was launched to remove, restore, and reinstall the 12 panels that were still preserved on site. This significant project was supervised by the New National Museum of Monaco (NMNM), the custodian of the artwork, in close collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Institute of Heritage, the Directorate of Public Works, and the Reserve – Collection Management.
Born in 1922 and trained at the School of Applied Arts in Paris, Roger Capron contributed to the revival of ceramics in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1952, he opened his own ceramics factory in Vallauris, merging artistic approach with industrial processes. The artist also created major architectural ceramic works, such as for the Cannes Maritime Station and the décor of Byblos in Saint-Tropez. His creations have been recognised and awarded numerous prizes, including the gold medal at the 10th Triennale of Milan in 1954.
Several exhibitions have been dedicated to Capron, including a major retrospective in 2003 at the National Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres.
The restored panels now serve as a testament to Capron’s enduring legacy and his ability to blend artistic vision with functional design, offering a glimpse into the underwater world that inspired him.
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Photo: H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover surrounded by Patrice Cellario, Government Counselor-Minister of the Interior, Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs of Monaco, Björn Dahlström, Director of NMNM, and Philippe Capron, son of Roger Capron. Credit: Manuel Vital, Communication Department