What happened to Jules Mazarin's art collection and library after his death?
Jules Mazarinâs extensive art collection and library were largely preserved and integrated into French national institutions following his death.
Art Collection
Mazarinâs significant collection of art, which included prize paintings he acquired even during his exile, passed to the French Crown. Under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, these holdings contributed to the development and expansion of the arts in France under King Louis XIV, eventually becoming part of the royal collections that formed the foundation of institutions like the Louvre.1
Library
Mazarinâs library, the BibliothĂšque Mazarine, was originally established by his librarian, Gabriel NaudĂ©, as a public resource. Although the collection was dispersed during the uprisings of the Fronde, it was later restored. Today, the library remains housed in the palace Mazarin ordered built to accommodate the College of the Four Nations, which is now known as the Institut de France.23