Musée d’Orsay
Located on the left bank (Rive Gauche) of the Seine across from the Tuileries Gardens, the Musée d’Orsay was first housed in the Orsay railway station as a part of the Worlds Fair of 1900. At the time, the station and the hotel, designed by Victor Laloux, were quite modern with an open porch, great hall, and lobby. From 1900 to 1938, the Gare d’Orsay led the French railway system; however, it was soon outdated with electrification of the railways and longer trains needing longer platforms. As a suburban railway station, it served as a mailing center for POWs and those freed after WWII, as a film set, and an auctioneer’s site. As its usefulness declined, the station was facing destruction and replacement with a large hotel complex. Fortunately, an official decision was made to restore and rebuild the Museum in October of 1977 due to increased interest in 19th century architecture and the classification of the station as a historical monument, one worthy of preservation.
A group of architects that included Bardon, Colboc, and Philippon kept many of the original architectural features by Laloux, with further enhancement of the great hall and conversion of the glass awning to the museum entrance. The building, including the awning, measures 616’ length x 246’ wide x 105’ height of the great hall, and is composed of glass and Burgundy stone. It was officially inaugurated by former President Mitterrand of France on December 1, 1986, and opened to the public 8 days later.
There are three levels in the Musée d’Orsay, which include the ground floor galleries, a mid-level with overlooking terraces, and a top floor extending above the lobby. Natural and artificial lighting is used effectively throughout the galleries. The collections of paintings, sculpture, photography, and objets d’art were brought from the Louvre, the Musée du Jeu de Paume, and the National Museum of Modern Art, as well as from the Musée du Luxembourg. These earlier collections include the works of many well-known artists such as Monet, Manet, and Gaugin, and other paintings have been added through the years. A donation to the Museum in 2000 consisted of 24 paintings by Bonnard, Cézanne, Degas, and Vuillard.
The Museum also houses over 2200 sculptures, including panels from Gaugin, work by Daumier, and contemporary art by Klinger and Claudel. The photography collection, begun in 1979, represents the overall versatility and international flavor of the Museum. Some of the featured exhibits include prints by Gustave Le Gray, 83 snapshots by Riviére, 179 prints from the American pictorialist, Burty-Haviland, and flower studies by Charles Aubrey, as well as a recent acquisition of a set of Maurice Denis’ photographs.
Another interesting area in the Museum is the decorative arts section, which includes hundreds of objects gathered from museums and government departments throughout Paris. Visitors can view exhibits of Diehl furniture, woodwork by Jean Dampt, stained glass by Gruber and Tiffany, cast iron ornaments by Grimard, and gold and plaster molds by Bugatti. Other additions include works by Frank Lloyd Wright, silver by Follett, and the recent acquisition of 250 Art Nouveau objects from the Rispal donation.
Upcoming events at the Museum include a temporary exhibit of photography reporting of farm and factory workers and artisans from 1843 – 1933. The subject material in this exhibit covers everything from the fishermen of New Haven by Hill and Adamson to the floods of the Rhone and the Jewish communities of Poland. From October 2007 to January of 2008, the Museum is sponsoring a collection of artwork donated by Arї Redon, the son of artist Odilon Redon. Featured are the charcoal drawings of Redon’s “black period,” from the 1870 – 1880’s, and the series of four albums reflecting the relationship between symbolism and naturalism. Also on exhibit through January 2008 is a collection of contemporary art by Greek artist Kounellis, who focuses on the interaction of air and fire on organic and animal material. The work of Ferdinand Hodler, Swiss artist from the mid to the late 1800’s, is featured from November 2007 – February 2008. Hodler is remembered for his dark and allegorical portrayals in such works as the controversial Night, created after a serious psychological crisis, and his later achievements in painting landscapes, portraits, and patriotic murals.
In addition to lunchtime concerts in the 347-seat auditorium, there are film festivals, lectures, and symposiums, all in French, scheduled throughout the year. Over 3 million people visit the Musée d’Orsay each year, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city of Paris.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays – open till 9:45 p.m. (Closed Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.)
Ticket Kiosk: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday – Friday. Full rate – 9 Euros.
Guided Tours – Handicap accessible – Café des Hauteurs and bookshop on premises.