The Marseille History Museum is currently hosting an extraordinary exhibition that showcases more than a century and a half of Marseille life captured through the lenses of three generations of the Detaille photography dynasty. The exhibition, titled "Marseille as Seen by the Detailles: 164 Years of Photography," runs from October 31, 2025, through October 31, 2026, and represents far more than a traditional photo display—it offers visitors a complete immersion into the purely Marseillais whirlwind of life.

The remarkable photographic legacy spans three generations of the Detaille family: Fernand, Albert, and Gérard Detaille, who have masterfully captured the very essence of Marseille since the late 19th century. Their extensive archive includes iconic images of a father and son proudly posing at the Old Port, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde during its construction phase, a young woman with an Antillean headdress and sparkling eyes, views of the famous Canebière boulevard under harsh sunlight, rain, and even snow, sailing boats with billowing sails from distant lands, and the radiant smile of legendary performer Joséphine Baker.

The photographs on display come from an immense collection that the Detaille family generously donated to the municipality of Marseille. Among the historical treasures featured in the exhibition are images from the 1930s showing the garden "behind the Stock Exchange" that once occupied the site where the current Centre Bourse shopping center now stands. These images provide invaluable documentation of how dramatically the city's landscape has transformed over the decades.

For current family patriarch and photographer Gérard Detaille, Marseille represents what he describes as a "human kaleidoscope"—a constantly shifting, colorful tapestry of diverse cultures, personalities, and stories that make up the vibrant Mediterranean port city. This perspective has guided the family's photographic work for generations, resulting in a comprehensive visual chronicle that captures not just the physical evolution of Marseille, but also its social and cultural transformations.

The exhibition represents a significant milestone for the Marseille History Museum and provides visitors with an unprecedented opportunity to witness the city's evolution through the intimate yet panoramic lens of three generations of dedicated photographers. The Detaille family's contribution to preserving Marseille's visual heritage cannot be overstated, as their work documents everything from everyday street scenes to major historical events and urban development.

Looking toward the future, Gérard Detaille has expressed his ambitious vision of establishing a dedicated space for visual arts and photography in Marseille. This proposed venue would serve as a permanent home for the city's rich photographic heritage and would further cement Marseille's position as a cultural destination that values and preserves its artistic legacy for future generations to explore and appreciate.