When in Paris, tourists and locals alike often make a beeline for the city’s world-famous art museums. From the Louvre to the Orsay, there’s no shortage of places to see masterpieces by artists like Monet and Van Gogh. So if you’re looking for some guidance on where to go, read on for our guide to the best Paris art museums!
Paris Art Museums: Musée d’Orsay
Let’s start with the best Paris art museums out there. Musée d’Orsay is one of the largest art museums not only in France, but in the whole Europe. It is a museum dedicated to French art from the period 1848 through 1914. It has paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photographs dating from this time. Also, the world’s greatest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces is located here, including works of art of Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent van Gogh.
What popular works of art can you find here?
- The Hanged Man’s House, Paul Cézanne, 1873;
- The Birth of Venus, Alexandre Cabanel, 1863;
- Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh, 1888;
- Haystacks, Claude Monet, 1890-1891;
- Dance in the Country, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1883.
But the museum isn’t just a collection of paintings – it also has sculptures, furniture, and even some pieces of architecture on display. There’s something for everyone at the Musée d’Orsay, and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for Paris art museums.
Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre)
The Louvre Museum is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. Located in Paris, France, it is home to some of the most iconic artworks in history, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. With over 380,000 items on display, the Louvre is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, welcoming around 10 million visitors each year.
Founded in 1793, the Louvre was originally created as a public museum to display the art and artifacts seized during the French Revolution. Today, it houses one of the largest collections of art in the world, spanning a wide range of historical periods and styles. The museum is also home to a number of important archaeological exhibits, as well as an extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities.
The Louvre is divided into a number of sections, each dedicated to a different period or style of art. The most famous section is the Denon Wing, which houses the museum’s iconic paintings, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Other sections of the museum include the Sully Wing, which is home to a number of important sculptures, and the Richelieu Wing, which houses the museum’s extensive collection of ancient artifacts.
Visitors to the Louvre can explore the museum’s many galleries at their own pace, or take part in one of the guided tours that are offered daily. The museum also offers a number of educational programs and workshops for children, as well as a range of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
The Louvre is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris, and is a must-see for anyone interested in Paris art museums. With its vast collection of artworks and artifacts, the Louvre is a true treasure trove, and a fascinating window into the past.
Modern Art Museum: Centre Pompidou
Musée National d’Art Moderne, located in the Centre Pompidou, is the national museum of modern and contemporary art. The museum was founded in 1947 and houses an impressive art collection.
The Musée National d’Art Moderne is the largest museum of modern art and contemporary art in France. The museum’s collection includes paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and prints by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jean Dubuffet, Louise Bourgeois, and Andy Warhol. The museum also has a library and research center.
The Musée National d’Art Moderne is a must-see for anyone interested in modern and contemporary art. The collection is impressive, and the museum is well-organized and easy to navigate. It should definitely be on your list of Paris art museums!
Art Museum in Paris: Musée Picasso
Picasso Museum is dedicated to Pablo Picasso’s (1881–1973) artistic career. The museum’s collection consists of more than 5,000 pieces of art (paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, prints, engravings, and notebooks), as well as tens of thousands of archived documents from Picasso’s personal archive. After Picasso’s death, his family gave away a large portion of the items, in accordance with the artist’s wishes.
This Paris museum is located in the Marais district, in a 17th-century building that was once a private mansion. The building was extensively renovated and expanded, in order to accommodate the growing art collection. The museum now has four floors of exhibition space, as well as a library, a bookstore, and a café.
Paris: the City of Museums
Looking for more Paris art museums? Here are some of our favorites that you might not have heard of before:
- Rodin Museum (Musée Rodin) – dedicated to the works of Auguste Rodin, French sculptor;
- Musée du quai Branly – dedicated to the indigenous art and culture of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas;
- Musée Marmottan Monet – in this museum you can find a permanent collection of over 300 paintings by Claude Monet, including Impression, Sunrise;
- Musée de l’Orangerie – a small art gallery with impressionist and post-impressionist art, including Monet’s Water Lilies;
- Petit Musée de l’Argenterie – a museum of decorative arts made of silver;
- Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris – a museum dedicated to the modern and contemporary art;
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs – a museum of decorative arts (furniture, ceramics, etc.);
- Palais Galliera – a museum dedicated to fashion design and fashion history.
Paris is filled with museums and art galleries, and it is certain that everyone will find something to do here, no matter if we prefer contemporary art museums, medieval art in Europe, or small ethnographic galleries. Thanks for reading!
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