Franck Riester, Minister of Culture, pays tribute to the man of conviction through his strong involvement in many cultural projects especially in Arles, his hometown, and in ancient Provence.
After studying history at the University of Aix-en-Provence where he was a student of Fernand Benoit, Georges Duby and Jean-Rémy Palanque, Jean-Maurice Rouquette specialized and studied Palaeochristian and Romanesque Provence in particular.
From 1956 to 1996, he was curator of the museums and monuments of Arles and then assumed various heritage responsibilities in the region of Arles: president of the Autonomous Committee of the Departmental Museum of Ethnography, Arlaten museum, president of the Academy of Arles, Designer and chief curator of the Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antiques. Jean-Maurice Rouquette is also co-founder of the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie and co-founder of the Camargue Natural Park. He was a member of the National Commission for Historical Monuments for many years.
He will continue his commitments in the field of heritage and culture, notably as a member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (tourism committee).
Jean-Maurice Rouquette is the author of a dozen works dealing with the ancient and medieval monuments of Arles, including a volume of the Zodiaque collection on Romanesque Provence and two monographs of the abbey of Montmajour.
The Minister of Culture sends his condolences to his wife and children.