A Hidden Cézanne Comes to Light: Inside the Latest Discovery at the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan

Paul Cézanne left the world with countless masterpieces—but also with traces, forgotten brushstrokes that lay hidden for over a century behind the cool, quiet walls of his childhood home, the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan in Aix-en-Provence. This spring, after months of meticulous scientific investigation, restorers uncovered a new layer of history: a dazzling decorative mural that directly connects Cézanne’s earliest experiments to the grand salon where he first learned to wield a brush.

In 1859, when Cézanne was just twenty, his father purchased this 18th-century bastide. Almost immediately, the young artist began transforming the house’s interior into a living studio. He painted sweeping murals on the walls—harbor scenes, allegories, and studies of the surrounding Provençal landscape. Many of those works were removed over the decades—some now hang in the world’s greatest museums, others disappeared into private collections—but experts long suspected that fragments had survived, hidden beneath layers of limewash and silence.

Since the City of Aix-en-Provence acquired the bastide in 1994, and the adjoining farmhouse in 2017, a multidisciplinary team has been hard at work. Art historians, pigment specialists, heritage architects, and restorers have collaborated in the search for forgotten traces. Their persistence paid off in 2023 when a 5–6 square meter mural fragment depicting a harbor scene was uncovered in the grand salon. The discovery made headlines in France and abroad, prompting Mayor Sophie Joissains to intensify the research.

Now, the team has reached a new milestone. Just above the central alcove of the salon, they revealed a large painted medallion—in vivid ochre, deep blue, and bright green—framed by richly detailed plasterwork. The colors, motifs, and technique echo the famous Four Seasons panels that Cézanne painted a few years later on the lower walls of the same room. It’s now clear the young artist conceived the salon as a complete, immersive decorative project, not a collection of isolated studies.

“We are standing inside a palace-like décor, imagined and executed with boldness,” says Mayor Joissains. Even before the discovery was announced, the restoration firms Sinopia (for the mural) and Bouvier (for the ornamental plaster), under the direction of heritage architects Archigem, carried out complex dating work: pigment analysis, varnish layer cross-sections, and stylistic comparisons. All evidence confirms that this newly revealed décor is indeed by the hand of the young Cézanne.

The timing of the discovery couldn’t be better. On June 28, the Granet Museum in Aix-en-Provence opened a major exhibition entitled Cézanne in the Making, featuring more than 130 works painted by the artist between 1859 and 1899 in and around the Jas de Bouffan. Loans have come from leading institutions such as the Met, the Musée d’Orsay, and the National Gallery, as well as from private collectors. Visitors will now be able to admire these easel paintings while stepping inside the original salon of the bastide, whose gradual restoration will open to the public on the very same day.

Discovery at the Bastide II – Sophie Joissains, Mayor of Aix-en-Provence, pictured with Antoinette Sinigavlia, restorer, and Stefania Guiducci, architect © City of Aix

Discovery at the Bastide II © City of Aix

And the work is far from over. Could more fragments still lie hidden beneath the surface? Did Cézanne work alone? Did his friends, like Émile Zola, ever contribute to the mural project? Future surveys using infrared reflectography and micro-sampling may yet reveal further secrets.

For now, the newly uncovered medallion offers a vibrant truth: Cézanne was never just painting landscapes. He was building worlds. And in Aix-en-Provence, those worlds are slowly coming back to life. For anyone planning a visit to the city this summer, a stop at the bastide is nothing short of essential.

French Quarter Magazine will follow the restoration throughout the Cézanne year. Look for field notes, curator interviews, and travel tips for visitors heading to Provence this summer.

About the Author

Isabelle Karamooz, Founder of FQM is originally from Versailles, France. Isabelle harbored a lifelong fascination with exploring the world. Her journey began at 17 when she seized the opportunity to study abroad in Rhonda, Spain, igniting a passion for travel that took her across continents. From vibrant Hong Kong to picturesque Ireland, from the historic streets of Italy to the enchanting landscapes of Morocco, she embraced diverse cultures and experiences, truly embodying the spirit of a global citizen. After several years of exploration, Isabelle found a sense of home in Los Angeles, where she immersed herself in the vibrant cultural scene while working at the French Consulate. With a deep-seated love for the arts and history, she pursued her academic endeavors, earning a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, Berkeley. Furthering her dedication to education, she has studied to pursue a Master's program in teaching at the University of Southern California, eventually sharing her knowledge and passion as a French instructor for aspiring students at UNLV and CSN in Nevada. Driven by her passion for storytelling and cultural exchange, Isabelle founded French Quarter Magazine, where she serves as the Editor-in-Chief. In this role, she orchestrates the publication's diverse content, from conducting interviews and pitching story ideas to capturing captivating moments through photography. Currently, she is channeling her creative energies into her first English-language work, a novel that delves into the compelling life of Coco Chanel. Filled with adventure, intrigue, and a touch of romance, her debut novel promises to captivate readers with its rich tapestry of history and emotion.