The impressive sculptures at the Musee Bourdelle museum in Paris dedicated to Antoine Bourdelle

The Musee Bourdelle is a museum in Paris dedicated to featuring works from the artist and sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, which is to be found within the studio and apartment where he worked and lived from 1885 in the Montparnasse area.

When you enter the museum one of the first rooms you would most likely come across is the Great Hall which was added extension in 1961 to commemorate a century after his birth. It was made to hold some monumental plaster works, such as one named the Monument to the General Alvear and another called the Dying Centaur, and there is also a bronze copy of this which can be found on display in the courtyard garden.

Another area you can visit is the front garden with a gallery and terrace and it holds one of Antoine Bourdelle’s more signature pieces, called Heracles the Archer.

Further along in the Musee Bourdelle you can find a room which forms part of the house where the sculptor lived from 1885, and even if he did move to a different apartment in 1918 he still used to come to work daily and entertain any visitors here. Which also makes this room a great place to discover some of the more personal items and a few collections he gained himself.

Another place you can find are the studios where Bourdelle would have worked, where the rooms were faithfully preserved by his wife Cleopatre Sevastos and his daughter Rhodia and include the pastels he would have used and much more.

The studio not only includes items he would use to draw but also materials, which show the variety of work he created, including wood and bronze. But not only was it for himself, it was for other students whom were taught by him, including Aristide Maillol, Henri Matisse and Germaine Richer.

There is also a private courtyard garden at the museum in Paris, which holds a lot of the earlier works by Antoine, including Hannibals First Victory, Sappho and also the Dying Centaur bronze which was mentioned previously.

Another extension had to be built in 1992 which was designed by Christian de Portzamparc, who is also known for designing the Cite de la Musique located within the Parc de la Villette, and the new section at Musee Bourdelle allows two commemorative monuments including the Monument to the polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. Additionally this wing also holds temporary exhibitions, is a place for conversation and is home to a resource centre and a graphic arts room.

The main artist himself, Antoine Bourdelle, was born in 1861 within the Midi Pyrenees, which is where he went to school until he enrolled into the Toulouse School of Fine Art, also in the same region of France, when he was only fifteen years old.

At twenty four Antoine won a scholarship to go to Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and took the opportunity, at the same time taking resident at the studio of another sculptor, Alexandre Falguiere. In 1893 he became the assistant sculptor for Auguste Rodin which the partnership lasted for about fifteen years until 1908.

Later on he worked as a teacher but still at the same time worked on his own sculpting and the occasional architectural work, helping to draw up plans for the Theatre des Champs Elysees, as well as creating a series of Frescos as well as the decorative marble sculpture, which can be found on the front of the building, located closed to the Avenue des Champs Elysees.

Although, it was not until a year before his death in 1929 that he started to gain true recognition for his work, having gained popularity for his monument to honour Adam Mickiewicz which was inaugurated some months before he died in the October of that year.

After his death his wife Cleopatre, daughter Rhodia and son-in-law Michel Dufet wished to carry on his dream to dedicate a museum to his own work, which they also believed Antoine deserved the recognition for his fantastic works.

Eventually, the Musee Bourdelle opened to the public in 1949, and it was also in the same year that the Montparnasse area was being changed and improved which the road name also got changed to honour the sculptor with the new name of Rue Antoine Bourdelle.

But getting back to the Musee Bourdelle you can be pleased to know that is accessible for those which are disabled, with lift access to different levels, disabled toilets and large print tour guides for those with sight problems.

Now there are an estimated 6000 graphic works, 2000 plaster sculptures, 2200 bronze works, 198 paintings and an incredible 13000 photographs. But that doesn’t include the personal collection of Antoine Bourdelle as well as the major archive section the museum holds.

This makes the Musee Bourdelle one of the more unusual tourist attractions to visit while on Holiday in Paris, with a lot of history, various works of art and styles to look at, that are suitable for everyone to enjoy.

Holiday in France – Published by Kate Davis – European traveller and author of travel to guides to Paris holidays along with research for French monuments, tourist attractions, museums and much more by helping people to get the most out of a holiday in Paris. – Musee Bourdelle

Advertisement

The small museum in Paris dedicated to the artist Eugene Delecroix portrays his work and life

The Musee Eugene Delacroix Museum in Paris

The Musee Eugene Delacroix is a museum in Paris which is dedicated to the renowned painter Eugene Delacroix, showcasing his work, ideas and more, which is to be found within the heart of the Saint Germain des Pres area of Paris and within the apartment and studio where he lived and worked.

The history of the Musee Eugene Delacroix in itself is very fascinating, the original studio which the 19th century painter worked in was used only after the man became seriously ill and found the trek from his home to where he was working at the time too far to contend with. He found a place on Rue de Furstenberg which he found both calming and bright, and where he stayed for the rest of his life.

However, when he did die in August 1863, as he had no direct heir, his wish in his will was that his works were to be sold at the Hotel Drouot auction house in Paris along with most of his furniture. In fact there are many museums which hold his paintings such as Musee du Louvre, the Chateau Versailles castle and Musee Conde in the Chateau Chantilly. Although many of his personal items were shared among his friends relatives and servants.

After that many different people lived within the apartment but in 1929 there were talks to destroy the apartment.

Not long after there were several painters, two different historians of Delacroix, and an art collector who sought to prevent the destruction of the building by creating a society. Taking the name of Societe des Amis d’Eugene Delacroix, they initially simply rented the studio. Eventually leading onto being able to rent the apartment also with the idea of promoting work by the painter, starting exhibitions from 1932.

Towards the year 1952 the society placed the property for sale and sold the works and collections to National French Museums. Although with the money which was generated they put it forward and brought the apartment, studio, and the small garden.

A couple years later the same society donated the property to the French government under the condition that a museum would be created in memory of Eugene Delacroix. However it was only in 1971 that the Musee Eugene Delacroixbecame a French museum and eventually the apartment, courtyard and garden were placed onto the historical monuments in Paris list.

Although it does not stop there, an apartment which connected to the original painters apartment was brought in 1992, so that it could show even more to visitors, as well as showcase many documents for researchers, historians and teachers.

And more recently in 2004 the museum was handed responsibility to French state, who also owns the Musee du Louvre, to help preserve the museum and the property.

Although many items happened to be sold upon his death, many items such as his palettes, easels, painting tables, a glass he used to wash up with and candlesticks were left within his studio, all of which are now viewable at the museum, along with a collection of photographs towards the end of his life and a portrait miniature of him made by one of his friends, Jeanne Mathilde Herbelin.

This museum in Paris also holds works from nearly every phase of his art career, which cover a whole variety of themes including the only 3 attempts Eugene Delacroix tried at fresco in 1834 when he was at Valmont in the Haute Normandy region of France.

Among the paintings there are also drawings you can see, including many primary studies for paintings such as Chapelle des Saints-Anges at the Eglise Saint-Sulpice Church where he worked for some years before he died.

This section also has drawings made by some of his friends and colleagues, which is one of the museums goal to obtain them all. Such as the already established and complete collection of Eugene Delacroix’s lithographic stones for Hamlet and the corresponding prints.

Adittionally there are also letters and documents of the artists life, with letters sent and received from Eugene Delacroix, including ones sent to his cousin, the lawyer Pierre-Antoine Berryer as well as ones sent to the writer Theophile Gautier and additionally Josephine de Forget who he had an affair with.

Although one of the more touching letters came from Jenny Le Guillou, who had been his housekeeper and soon a very dear friend who was with him when he died, who in turn sent a letter to the cousin of the Eugene Delacroix announcing his death.

Taking a step away from his art career Eugene Delacroix also took a trip to Morocco in 1832 which he was most fascinated by, taking numerous sketches and notes along with various objects from the foreign country, which are now on display at Musee Eugene Delacroix.

The museum is to found in the 6th Arrondissement of Paris, inside the popular Saint Germain des Pres area. And is also noticeably close to the Saint-Sulpice church, which is the second largest church in Paris preceded by the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Musee Eugene Delacroix is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm except for on a Tuesdays and National French holidays. However the museum is not accessible for the disabled and not advisable for children due to the lack of a handrail on a staircase leading up to the museum.

Due to the small size of the museum groups larger than seven people have to make a reservation and are limited to twenty five people including a guide and guided visits are conducted at a separate time form the usual opening times of the museum.

Although there are workshops for both adults and children to enjoy as well as special events and even a marquee can be set up in the garden, which have to be pre-booked.

The Musee Eugene Delacroix is an interesting and intriguing museum with a lot of history and variants of art suitable to visit while on Holiday in Paris.

The small museum in Paris dedicated to the artist Eugene Delecroix portrays his work and life

The Musee Eugene Delacroix Museum in Paris

The Musee Eugene Delacroix is a museum in Paris which is dedicated to the renowned painter Eugene Delacroix, showcasing his work, ideas and more, which is to be found within the heart of the Saint Germain des Pres area of Paris and within the apartment and studio where he lived and worked.

The history of the Musee Eugene Delacroix in itself is very fascinating, the original studio which the 19th century painter worked in was used only after the man became seriously ill and found the trek from his home to where he was working at the time too far to contend with. He found a place on Rue de Furstenberg which he found both calming and bright, and where he stayed for the rest of his life.

However, when he did die in August 1863, as he had no direct heir, his wish in his will was that his works were to be sold at the Hotel Drouot auction house in Paris along with most of his furniture. In fact there are many museums which hold his paintings such as Musee du Louvre, the Chateau Versailles castle and Musee Conde in the Chateau Chantilly. Although many of his personal items were shared among his friends relatives and servants.

After that many different people lived within the apartment but in 1929 there were talks to destroy the apartment.

Not long after there were several painters, two different historians of Delacroix, and an art collector who sought to prevent the destruction of the building by creating a society. Taking the name of Societe des Amis d’Eugene Delacroix, they initially simply rented the studio. Eventually leading onto being able to rent the apartment also with the idea of promoting work by the painter, starting exhibitions from 1932.

Towards the year 1952 the society placed the property for sale and sold the works and collections to National French Museums. Although with the money which was generated they put it forward and brought the apartment, studio, and the small garden.

A couple years later the same society donated the property to the French government under the condition that a museum would be created in memory of Eugene Delacroix. However it was only in 1971 that the Musee Eugene Delacroix became a French museum and eventually the apartment, courtyard and garden were placed onto the historical monuments in Paris list.

Although it does not stop there, an apartment which connected to the original painters apartment was brought in 1992, so that it could show even more to visitors, as well as showcase many documents for researchers, historians and teachers.

And more recently in 2004 the museum was handed responsibility to French state, who also owns the Musee du Louvre, to help preserve the museum and the property.

Although many items happened to be sold upon his death, many items such as his palettes, easels, painting tables, a glass he used to wash up with and candlesticks were left within his studio, all of which are now viewable at the museum, along with a collection of photographs towards the end of his life and a portrait miniature of him made by one of his friends, Jeanne Mathilde Herbelin.

This museum in Paris also holds works from nearly every phase of his art career, which cover a whole variety of themes including the only 3 attempts Eugene Delacroix tried at fresco in 1834 when he was at Valmont in the Haute Normandy region of France.

Among the paintings there are also drawings you can see, including many primary studies for paintings such as Chapelle des Saints-Anges at the Eglise Saint-Sulpice Church where he worked for some years before he died.

This section also has drawings made by some of his friends and colleagues, which is one of the museums goal to obtain them all. Such as the already established and complete collection of Eugene Delacroix’s lithographic stones for Hamlet and the corresponding prints.

Adittionally there are also letters and documents of the artists life, with letters sent and received from Eugene Delacroix, including ones sent to his cousin, the lawyer Pierre-Antoine Berryer as well as ones sent to the writer Theophile Gautier and additionally Josephine de Forget who he had an affair with.

Although one of the more touching letters came from Jenny Le Guillou, who had been his housekeeper and soon a very dear friend who was with him when he died, who in turn sent a letter to the cousin of the Eugene Delacroix announcing his death.

Taking a step away from his art career Eugene Delacroix also took a trip to Morocco in 1832 which he was most fascinated by, taking numerous sketches and notes along with various objects from the foreign country, which are now on display at Musee Eugene Delacroix.

The museum is to found in the 6th Arrondissement of Paris, inside the popular Saint Germain des Pres area. And is also noticeably close to the Saint-Sulpice church, which is the second largest church in Paris preceded by the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Musee Eugene Delacroix is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm except for on a Tuesdays and National French holidays. However the museum is not accessible for the disabled and not advisable for children due to the lack of a handrail on a stair case leading up to the museum.

Due to the small size of the museum groups larger than seven people have to make a reservation and are limited to twenty five people including a guide and guided visits are conducted at a separate time form the usual opening times of the museum.

Although there are workshops for both adults and children to enjoy as well as special events and even a marquee can be set up in the garden, which have to be pre-booked.

The Musee Eugene Delacroix is an interesting and intriguing museum with a lot of history and variants of art suitable to visit while on Holiday in Paris.

From basilica to The Pantheon that became a famous burial place

Back in 507AD King Clovis converted to Christianity and decided to build a basilica on the very site where The Pantheon stands today and Saint Genevieve, who was the patron saint of Paris that protected the city from the barbarians, was buried in this basilica in 512AD.

This meant that the basilica and further churches were dedicated to Saint Genevieve and in 1744 after King Louis XV had been seriously ill, he attributed his recovery to the prayers of Saint Genevieve and decided that he would have a prestigious church built on the same spot as the original basilica dedicated to her.

So, in 1755 the design for the new basilica was entrusted to Jacques-Germain Soufflot, the chief architect of King Louis, and the overall design was that of a Greek cross with a very impressive portico of Corinthian columns, but the then Basilica has a combination of different styles like Greek architecture and also a Gothic system that utilised flying buttresses and arches to make it as light as possible.

However, even though the first foundations were laid in 1758, unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, Jacques Soufflot died before this impressive basilica was completed and eventually it was completed at the start of the French Revolution.

Yet in 1791, the basilica was turned into a National Pantheon, as the Constituent Assembly wanted a fitting resting place for the nations great men, such as Honore Gabriel Riqueti Comte de Mirabeau, who was the President of the Constituent Assembly.

In 1791 Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire, who was a philosopher and enlightenment writer, was also buried in the Pantheon and then in 1794 Jean-Jacques Rousseau along with Jean-Paul Marat were also buried in the Pantheon.

In fact, Rousseau, who was known as the father of equality, is laid to rest opposite his sworn enemy, Voltaire, but these two men were both named as emblems of the Enlightenment, which was a term used for philosophers who favoured reason and science, but when political ideals changed, the ashes of Marat were removed and it became a place for Christian worship again.

However, it was turned back into The Pantheon during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte I, and in 1851, the physicist Leon Foucault demonstrated the rotation of the Earth by his experiment conducted in the Pantheon, by constructing a 67 metre Foucault pendulum beneath the central dome, yet there is only a copy of the original pendulum in place today.

Great people were interred within The Pantheon in spectacular ceremonies, such asVictor Hugowho wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame, who was interred here in 1885 and many others followed such as French presidents, Louis Braille founder of Braille, the scientists Pierre Curie and Marie Curie who was actually the first woman to be buried in the crypt.  In addition to the ashes of the French Resistance fighter Jean Moulin and the heart of Leon Gambetta in an urn plus many others, but the most recent was that of Alexandre Dumas who wrote the Three Musketeers.

As you can no doubt tell, there is a vast amount to see at The Pantheon and the first thing is the masterpiece of architecture from the outside and by entering this monument you see the main floor including sculptures at the base of pillars that depict the French Revolution, then continuing in, you can get to see the copy of the Foucault’s pendulum.

You can also get to see the maroufles, which are paintings on canvas that are glued in place, and these are located where the original windows were bricked up during the French Revolution.

And as you towards the back of The Pantheon past the Foucault pendulum, you will see the staircase down to the crypt, which has a permanent exhibition that provides details of the work and lives of those that are buried here like Victor Schoelcher, Emile Zola, Jean Lannes, Marechal de France and many others.

Plus you can have a guided tour of the dome and the external colonnade that provides fabulous views of the city, which is yet another monument in Paris that is an ideal spot for taking in the sights while you are on holiday in Paris.

Yet we would like to point out that the dome can only be accessed from April through to October, even though this famous monument in Paris can be visited all year round.

Now there is a charge to enter The Pantheon, but it is free to those aged under 18 who are accompanied by an adult, and a guide booklet is also available in different languages such as English, German, Italian and Spanish, but if booked well in advance you can also have a guided tour, which again can be arranged in different languages such as English.