Bienfaiteur aixois, Fernand Dol est né dans le village voisin de Lambesc le 24 février 1847. Il est issu d’une famille aixoise de confiseurs.
Sa vie restera empreinte d’ombres. On sait qu’il vécut la majorité de son temps à Paris, mais qu’il visitait Aix-en-Provence tous les ans. On ne lui connaissait aucune profession. Il était marié, mais n’avait aucune descendance.
À sa mort, il fit don de la plupart de ses capitaux et de ses œuvres d’art à la ville d’Aix-en-Provence. L’argent donné perdit de sa valeur lors du « crash boursier » de 1930. Heureusement, les œuvres d’art léguées conservèrent leur grande valeur. Mais, il fallut construire un bâtiment supplémentaire dans l’enceinte du musée Granet pour y accueillir tous ces dons. Il meurt à Paris le 2 mai 1928 à l’âge de 81 ans et sera inhumé au cimetière Saint-Pierre d’Aix-en-Provence quelques jours plus tard. La ville d’Aix-en-Provence remplaça le nom de l’une de ses rues par Fernand Dol en signe de gratitude.
A voir : Le portrait de Fernand Dol peint par Ferdinand Roybet au musée Granet.
Local Benefactor, Fernand Dol was born in the nearby village of Lambesc, on February 24, 1847.
His family was an affluent, Aixoise family of candy makers.
Most of the details of his adult life remain a mystery. He lived for the majority of his adult life in Paris, and he visited Aix-en-Provence every year. Fernand Dol was never known to have a profession, and though he was married, he had no children.
At his death, he left the majority of his money, and his art collection, to the city of Aix-en-Provence. The money unfortunately lost its value during the Stock Market Crash of 1930. His art collection thankfully was worth a considerable sum. The size of his collection even necessitated the construction of an addition to the Granet Museum.
Fernand Dol died in Paris, on May 2, 1928, at the age of eighty-one. He was buried in Saint Pierre Cemetery in Aix-en-Provence, a few days following his death.
Later, the city of Aix-en-Provence decided to re-name this street, Rue Fernand Dol, as an expression of their gratitude.
To see:
There is a portrait of Fernand Dol, painted by Ferdinand Roybet, on display in the Granet Museum.
