Opposite the Jardins des Tuileries, in the center of the city, the musée d'Orsay is really fantastic. Opened in 1986, it houses works of art created between 1848 and 1914.
The museum tells the story of this period with collections of:
👉Paintings;
👉Sculptures;
👉Art objects;
👉Photographs;
👉Graphic arts;
👉 and Architecture.
It was designed where there used to be an old railway station and the (grand) architecture of the original construction of the building was respected.
Once essential to the train station, the clocks are a spectacle on their own.
Thousands of visitors every year pass through the entrances of the Musée d'Orsay and enjoy the beautiful architecture of this old railway station that was almost demolished. By a wise decision, the scenery returned to show its past splendor and, today, as you walk through the museum, you take an unforgettable tour of one of the most creative periods in the History of Art.
Some works from the paintings collection:
Edouard Manet (1832-1883)
Olympia - 1863
work inspired by Venus of Urbino in Titian , who also referred to Venus Asleep, in Giorgione .
Dimensions: 130.5 x 190 cm
Le déjeuner sur l'herbe (Lunch on the grass) - 1863
This work was rejected by the Salon of 1863, as it considered the presence of a naked woman surrounded by clothed men to be obscene work.
Dimensions : 208 x 264 cm
Berthe Morisot au bouquet de violettes – 1872
Companion to the artist, Berthe Morisot was portrayed several times by Manet.
Dimensions : 55 x 40 cm
Le fifre (The fife player) – 1866
With a reduced color palette and space without depth, this painting received several criticisms and was rejected by the jury of the Salon of 1866. Today it is considered a masterpiece of Impressionism.
Dimensions : 160 x 97 cm
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Femmes au jardin (Women in the Garden) – 1866
Completed in a studio, the painting was rejected by the jury of the Salon of 1867, who wanted to “save” art from this type of imprecise work.
Dimensions: 255 x 205 cm
London, le Parlement (London, Parliament) - 1904
In this work, Parliament appears impalpable, almost disappearing in the fog that enveloped London.
Dimensions: 81 x 92 cm
Le pont d'Argenteuil – 1874
in Argenteuil, the sailboats on the Seine, which Monet portrayed from his floating studio, were among his favorite subjects.
Dimensions: 60.5 x 80 cm
Poppy Field – 1873
One of the most famous paintings in the world, it evokes the vibrant atmosphere of a stroll through poppy fields on a summer's day. Painting with almost non-existent details, where the impressionist movement is shown by small touches of color and the importance of light.
Dimensions: 50 x 65 cm
Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
Bal du moulin de la Galette (The ball at the moulin de la Galette) – 1876
A subject of criticism in its time, it is undoubtedly one of Renoir's most important works. It was exhibited at the 1877 Impressionist exhibition. The Moulin de la Galette was a former mill located in Montmartre.
Dimensions: 131 x 175 cm
Jeunes filles au piano – 1892
There are three other versions of this composition in oil and two drawings, one in oil and one in pastel. One of them is in the Musée de l'Orangerie.
Dimensions: 116 x 90 cm
Le waitress au chat – 1868
The identity of the model of this work is not known, which is unique (a male nude) in Renoir's works.
Dimensions: 123 x 66 cm
Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
Les joueurs de cartes (The Card Players) - between 1890 and 1895
It is the fifth version in a series of card players portrayed by the artist.
Dimensions: 47.5 x 57 cm
Baigneurs (Bathers) – 1890
Cézanne painted numerous compositions with bathers. His intention was to achieve the fusion between the human figure and the landscape.
Dimensions: 60 x 82 cm
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
The dance class (Between 1871 and 1874)
Ballerinas were a favorite subject for Degas, who portrayed them in various movements and positions.
Dimensions: 85 x 75 cm
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Portrait de l'artiste (self-portrait) - 1889
Several times Van Gogh painted his self-portrait. In this, he demonstrates his introspection.
Dimensions: 60 x 82 cm
La nuit étoilée - 1888
In the starry night, the couple's presence at the bottom of the canvas reinforces the calmer atmosphere of the painting, while the starry sky demonstrates the author's psychological turmoil. at the Musee d'Orsay.
Dimensions: 72.5 x 92 cm
Some works from the sculpture collection:
Francois Pompon (1855-1933)
Ours blanc (White Bear) - between 1923 and 1933
Pompom put aside the human figure and devoted himself to sculpting animals. The Polar Bear is one of his finest works and was presented at the Salon in 1922.
Dimensions: 163 x 251 x 90 cm
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
L'Age d'airain (The Bronze Age) - 1877
Rodin's first bronze statue, sculpted when he was 37 years old and spending time in Brussels.
Dimensions: 178 x 59 x 61.5 cm
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Petite danseuse 14 years old (Little dancer 14 years old) - between 1921 and 1931
Bronze statue and wooden base, with patina and satin ribbon. It is a copy made of the original, in wax.
Dimensions: 98 x 35.2 x 24.5 cm
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875)
Les quatre parties du monde soutenant la sphère céleste (The four parts of the world supporting the celestial sphere – version 1872
Carpeaux allegorically shows four parts of the world: Africa, Asia, America and Europe; each in a different position, as if they were rotating on themselves and around the celestial sphere.
Dimensions: 280 x 177 x 145 cm
Book purchased at the museum store
A little of history...
For the Universal Exhibition of 1900 in Paris, a new train station, the Gare d'Orsay, and a luxury hotel were built, which would serve travelers.
The project should respect the architectural harmony of the city and offer luxurious and comfortable spaces, in an elegant urban environment.
with the progress electric trains came, so the place could be closed off with glass, which let the light through and protected travelers. Steam trains could not service the luxurious station.
Despite its modernity, the station was quickly outdated and the platform space became inadequate for the new, longer trains that appeared.
So, since 1939, the station's activity was limited to trains in the urban perimeter and, in 1973, it was completely deactivated.
The space, like many others in Paris, took in prisoners in times of war. It was also a post office during the Second World War and the setting for some films.
The place was somewhat abandoned, in need of renovations, but ideas were not lacking. After all, the location was privileged. In 1971, with authorization for the demolition of the site and construction of a luxury hotel, the prototype of the new work was considered unsuitable for the noble place and the railway building was saved.
In 1978 the building was classified as a Historic Monument and its transformation into a museum was envisioned.
After numerous works, the Musée d'Orsay opened in December 1986.
The interaction between painting, decoration, photography and sculpture fascinates...
The works were composed mainly from the collections of the Musée du Louvre, the Jeu de Paume, the Musée du Luxembourg, the Center Georges Pompidou, in addition to maintaining a policy of acquisitions and donations.
In 2011, the museum underwent significant renovations. The lighting was remodeled, new rooms were opened and the Impressionist Gallery was the main highlight, with colors on the walls that enhanced the works even more. There are twelve rooms with the following themes:
✔ Origin of Impressionism
✔ The first Impressionist exhibition - 1874
✔ Paintings of “Modern Paris”
✔ Impressionism in the late 19th century
✔ Early 20th century art: Monet and Cézanne after 1900
Accessibility and comfort were also included in the renovation.
On the official website of the Musée D'Orsay, you will find an interesting gallery with videos
www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/outils-transversaux/galerie-video/galerie-video
The museum also offers two cafes and a restaurant:
- Café Campana - by Brazilian designers, right after the impressionist gallery, on the fifth floor, is a must-see! Mouth watering hot chocolate with croissant. Delight! It's a passage to the balcony, which has a beautiful view (hint: even if you don't go to the cafe, check it out).
- Café l'Ours offers sandwiches, salads and quick snacks; is in the entrance hall;
- The restaurant, whose (magnificent) hall is listed as a historic monument, is located on the first floor and prepares traditional French cuisine and some original dishes related to museum events.
The boutique bookstore has incredible memorabilia based on works in the museum and a vast selection of books and catalogues.
The purchase of the ticket to the musée d'Orsay can be combined with the musée de l'Orangerie or the musée Rodin. Worth the savings, depending on your schedule.
Free entry every first Sunday of the month.
Purchase online at: digitick.com; fnac.com; ticketmaster.fr; parisinfo.com.
Please note: tickets purchased online cannot be picked up at the museum.
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MUSEUM D'ORSAY
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1, Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 - Paris
Metro: line 12 (Solferino)
RER C (Musee d'Orsay station)
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (Thursday to 9:45 pm)
ticket sales until 5pm (9pm on Thursday)
Closed
May 1
December 25
Photographs are allowed (the ban was lifted in 2015).
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