The Louvre & Musée D’Orsay

by | Sep 13, 2018 | a slice of life | 80 comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

I really wasn’t planning on going to a museum. I’ve never had a desire or felt the need to see paintings in person until this past year when my interest in studying art has increased. Still, I didn’t want to spend my brief time in Paris strolling indoors, looking at paintings that weren’t really my taste.

People who knew me insisted, though. They all but bought the tickets and ushered me there. “You cannot be an artist in Paris and not go to the Louvre.”

I relented. The tickets weren’t expensive and we could always “pop in”, see a few things, and then say we’ve been to the Louvre.

With that plan in mind, I purchased the tickets online for a quick entry and then I did some research to figure out which paintings we might want to see. My complete lack of knowledge of museums and where which paintings were on display became apparent as I learned that all (almost all) of the paintings in the Louvre predate the impressionist paintings, which were the works I wanted to see most.

Further Google searches informed me that those were at Musée d’Orsay. (I was saying it dee-or-say, but our driver in Paris said it’s door-say. Maybe it’s like tom-ay-to, tom-ah-to, because I heard it said both ways.) So, we bought tickets for d’Orsay, too and we planned some time to see both of them.

We went to the Louvre on Monday, our first full day in Paris. The first thing that was so impressive about it was the size. People tell you it’s huge, but you don’t understand how huge until you’re standing next to it, like a little acorn among a grove of oaks. We later learned it used to be the palace (oddly, the kings didn’t actually live there), so the massive size and opulent style made more sense.

It had massive staircases and enormous halls with towering ceilings. Every room was bedecked in elaborate moldings and ornate trim. The building itself was art and was every bit as impressive and captivating as the paintings, sculptures, and antiquities.

I’ll just get it out of the way and say the paintings in the Louvre aren’t really my style. I am not drawn to the school-gym-sized scenes with naked people in angst laying all over the ground. BUT, and let me get this but in before you admonish me, it was the age and the size of the paintings that was so awe-inspiring.  I enjoyed looking at the paintings there more than I thought I would.

As someone who feels like a 16″ x 20″ is a gigantic canvas to fill, I couldn’t even imagine working on a piece of art so large and detailed. The amount of time and paint and planning that went into each one! Each one could’ve been studied for hours to discover all of the symbolism and story carefully placed across the canvas. Maybe a lifetime.

Instead of studying the art itself, I thought about the artist and how his studio would have to be set up in order to accommodate the large canvas.   He probably put in thousands of steps each day getting off his ladder and walking back to make sure he was getting the desired effect from his brush strokes.

We did see the Mona Lisa. It was crowded, so we saw it from about 10-12 feet away, but I didn’t want to wait in a line to get closer. I felt satisfied and we moved on to view less famous works.

I actually researched why the Mona Lisa is so famous and she apparently gained her fame when she was stolen in the early 20th century and later recovered. The ordeal attracted worldwide attention, which served as the ultimate PR campaign. Practically overnight, this small work that wasn’t known as one of the finest paintings in the Louvre, became its icon.

We mostly walked through the halls numbered in the 700’s, looking at the Spanish, French, and English paintings. I also loved looking at the sculptures more than I expected. I was now viewing them from an artist’s perspective, appreciating what ideal subjects they were to sketch.

This guy really did look like he was taking a selfie, so I couldn’t resist…

I took tons of pictures, so I can sketch some when I get home. Artists actually are permitted to sketch at the Louvre (and take pictures), but the halls were busy and the atmosphere too intense to sit and sketch.

The museum was a treat, though, and I’m glad I was forced into it! The building alone was worth the price of admission.

It was the busiest place we visited, though. The crowds were thick and it was hard to get good pictures of the works sometimes, because another tourist would stroll right in front of you. I was taking a picture of a pretty painting and an entire tour ground engulfed me and then the guide proceeded to stand in front of the painting I was admiring. I had to wait until he was done with his spiel and the tour moved on, so I could get a proper picture.

I later noticed that, throughout Paris, if you stop every time you might be walking into the frame of someone’s camera, it would be equivalent to stopping every time your dog wants to thoroughly sniff something when you’re taking him for a walk. At some point, you have to just press on or you’ll never get where you’re going.

As a bonus, we saw the Arc de Triomphe right near the entrance to the Louvre.  We weren’t expecting to see that, so it was a nice thing we stumbled across.  (Edited: My bad!  Apparently, there are two arches and the larger one is a couple of miles away.  We saw theCarrousel Arc de Triomphe.  I thought it looked a little different from the pictures, but you know that is!  Thanks to my readers who know Paris well!)

We went to Musée d’Orsay the next morning. Our tickets were for right when the museum opened, so there were times we had an entire room to ourselves. The crowds picked up as we made our way through the remodeled train station, but the pace was slower and the vibe more relaxed.

Until the moment I first leaned in to examine one of the paintings in the impressionist exhibit, I thought that seeing a picture of a painting in a book was sufficient. I was completely wrong. Seeing the paintings in person felt a little like being let in on a magician’s magic tricks. When you can see the brush strokes, colors, and textures in person, you get a much better understanding of how the painting was created and how the artist achieved the illusion of light.

Now, some of you will get this and some of you will think I’m crazy, but there were a few paintings, specifically by Monet, that I wouldn’t have bought if it was some anonymous painting at a thrift store, filed among the prints and old frames. It made me wonder if he loved all of the paintings that were prominently displayed in this museum or if he would be mortified that millions viewed some of them.

It was very encouraging to see his development as an artist, though.  I don’t think we think about the fact that Monet and Renoir had to start somewhere and they probably painted a lot of less-than-great things along the way.

There were, of course, many amazing Monet paintings where you could see his genius.

What looked like very simple, non-detailed brush strokes, became a beautifully lit scene when viewed from the proper distance.

Impressionist works are all about perspective and I loved being able to change my perspective when viewing them in person.  It also gave me unspoken permission to let go of the notion that everything has to be represented with a brush stroke in my own work.  Some of it , even a lot of it, can be left for the eye to fill in.

 

There were other art styles represented in the d’Orsay as well and I loved exploring all of the nooks and crannies of the place.

The building itself also held lots of lovely surprises from the magnificent rooftop view…

…to lovely hallways that connected galleries and led you past restaurants…

…and a jaw-dropping reception room…

There was even some furniture at the museum!

In the end, I’m glad I took to time to go to both museums.  Seeing the work at the Louvre made me appreciate how radical the impressionists were.  I can understand why they had to fight to get their work shown and recognized.

Now, I want to visit more museums.  I’m just about sick that I lived in the DC suburbs for years (even worked in downtown DC for a time) and never went to the National Gallery of Art.  I’m going to have to fix that next time I’m visiting my parents in Gettysburg.

More about Paris and Tuscany to come…

 

Receive a Daily Dose of Encouragement and Inspiration!

Stay Inspired with Marian's Daily Blog Posts

Sign up to receive uplifting blog posts directly in your inbox! Join our community of like-minded individuals and start your day with a burst of creativity, motivation, and positivity. Whether you’re seeking decorating tips, DIY projects, or simply a dose of inspiration, Marian’s daily posts are sure to brighten your day and ignite your creativity. Don’t miss out on your daily dose of encouragement – subscribe now!

    80 Comments

    1. Kelly

      That’s not the l’Arc de Triomphe. The actual Arc de Triomphe is about 2 miles away and can be reached by the Champs-Elysees. You were at the Carrousel Arc de Triomphe, which is just a city square, albeit with a gorgeous arch. The Arc de Triomphe is massive and dwarfs the arch that you saw.

      • Patricia

        Good catch Kelly. The actual Arc de Triomphe is spectacular and much much grander in person so Marian if you are still there I hope you can not just go see it but walk up top!

        • Nancy

          I once climbed to the top. The view is amazing, and it’s the best way to see how the streets of Paris were laid out in the 19th century. That said, it was a LONG climb.

      • Marian Parsons

        Ah, I didn’t know there were two! Good to know and I was surprised to see it there. 🙂

      • monique odman

        You are right Kelly, it is not the very famous and much bigger Arc du Triomphe in the center of which hangs a huge French flag. It is a very impressive and important monument of Paris.

        Marian, I am happy to see the great photos of the museums and your selection of wonderful paintings. Your own
        portrait mimicking the “selfie” statue is very funny, you look happy to be there. Compliments to your mother who
        took that good picture. The endless summer of 2018 makes your visit perfect.
        Keep enjoying your voyage.

    2. Becca

      Thank you for sharing the beauty of these museums. Many of us will never get to see them in person, so it’s like giving us a special souvenir.

      • Laurie

        Becca, My sentiments exactly!
        Marion, great realistic photos!

    3. Denise Goetz

      In 2009 we were visiting France with our young teens (3) and went to the Musee d’Orsay while in Paris. I was so excited to see everything, but especially Monet’s series on the cathedral in Rouen and pictures of his house and gardens as we had just been to both the day before! To say my children were not excited would be the understatement of the century! They were normally really great about sight seeing but totally lost it there! I told my children and husband that I would return and there would be no children (and possibly no husband) with me!

    4. Marilyn shannon

      I was lucky enough to be there this time last year and your post brought back memories of visiting both these wonderful museums. I would love to go back and spend more time there. It is impossible to see even a fraction of the art in a day.

    5. Jeanne

      Thank you. This is a post that took my breath away…in a wonderful, good way…for our planned/cancelled/soon to be reset trip to Paris we were going to skip the Louvre…now we won’t…but Musee d’Orsay was always on the list…so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

    6. Tina-Marie Hamilton

      I highly suggest the Uffizi Place in Florence, an intimate museum with stunning Botticellis. See the real paintings, ignore the touristy prints. Stunning!

    7. Kate

      Marian…I was just in Paris with my daughter in May and we loved the Musee d’Orsay (we did not even go into the Louvre because of the crowds). Loved how you were looking at brush strokes, I do the same. Nothing like getting up close and personal to the masters. You must see Monet’s Waterlilies at the Musee de l’Orangerie…right next to the Louvre and an easy in and out excursion…and view those huge canvas’ and look at those brush strokes….incredible!!!!
      Enjoy every minute…my daughter and I CRUSHED Paris!!!! PS…you were absolutely adorable with your selfie pose!!!

    8. judy

      If you are taking a walk and just bringing your dog along then the pace set is yours but if you want your dog to enjoy his/her walk then please let them enjoy the basis of their understanding of their environment.Scents are everything to them and I feel so sorry to see an angry dog owner literally dragging a dog along. Not a fun walk or outing for doggies at all.

      • Marian Parsons

        Oh, of course I don’t drag Sebastian around on our walks. He would sniff an area forever if I didn’t move things along a bit, though! He’s happy when we’re on the move again, too, and he can find new places to sniff and mark. I was just trying to use an analogy most people could relate to.

      • Addie

        REALLY!!!???? Judy!!!

    9. Nanette

      If you would like a personalized tour of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts I would be very happy to give you one. I have been a docent there for over 30 years and it often helps to have a guide show you around.

      • Marian Parsons

        Oh, wow!! I will take you up on that!

    10. Sarah

      quick french lesson. when a consonant precedes a vowel i.e. D’Orsay a liaison happens and instead of saying Doo Orsay (De and Le are pronounced Dew and Lew not Day or Lay like in Spanish) you squash the ‘D’ and the ‘O’ together and create the liaison and say Door-say. Another, different example of the consonant vowel liaison is, to say United States in french, États Unis, would be etah-zoonee because the ‘S’ at the end of Etats squashes with the ‘U’ in Unis to make the ‘zoonee’ sound. and of course the ‘S’ at the end of Unis is silent…

      • Amy Greenan

        Yep, that’s it exactly! Great explanation.

        The Musee D’Orsay was my favorite place in Paris. At the time I was really into the post-impressionists, especially Toulouse-Lautrec, and that was the place to be! Thanks for sharing.

      • Nancy L Johnson

        While it’s Musee d’Orsay (with the “d” pronounced and elided into Orsay), the French refer to the museum as the Orsay. To say “d’Orsay” means “of Orsay.” Your cabbie was correct.

    11. Gina D Berk

      If you love art, don’t ever miss the chance to visit a museum. Even if you only have an hour, you’ll always see something that blows you away and you’ll always learning something, even if it isn’t a style you care for. Paintings and sculpture you see in books or magazines are located in museums all over the world and it’s always better to see them in person. I’m so glad to hear you took the time to visit these two MUST museums. I’ve only been once to each and can’t wait to visit them again to be awed.

    12. Mary C

      Thank you for this post, I am also a Minnesotan going to Paris in April for the first time. I’m reading your postings and paying close attention for tips. I don’t paint, but am most excited to see the Louvre first and the flea markets second. The architecture is another thing I am excited about seeing. Keep them coming!

      • Julie

        Take note of the doors if you like architecture. I have a photo album I named “Doors of Paris” from my visit to Paris, probably 60-75 different doors pictures. And they weren’t “special” doors, they were doors of businesses, apartments, houses, just doors. They are spectacular in their own way and were a huge treat for me.

        • Marian Parsons

          Oh yes, I photographed a lot of doors there!

    13. Chris Moore of Seattle

      Thanks for taking us along Marian!

    14. Susan

      When visiting in PA, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum and the Barnes are all wonderful Philadelphia destinations.

    15. Darcy

      You’re only a couple of hours away from the Art Institute in Chicago. It’s a spectacular museum where I’ve spent countless hours and still haven’t seen everything in the collections. It’s well worth the trip to Chicago – my favorite US city. The restaurant in the Modern Wing is delightful and a great respite.

      • Nancy

        Chicago is my favorite city, too, and ditto for the Art Institute.

      • Deb

        You are so right. The Art Institute is amazing! I haven’t seen the John Sargeant exhibit yet and it’s only at the Art Institue til Sept. 30th. Can’t wait!

    16. Maureen

      These post brought memories of my visit to these two museums in 2016. I loved both but D’Orsay is my favorite due to the Impressionist paintings. My husband and I spent hours in there! I can’t wait to go back to Paris! Enjoy!

    17. Victoria

      I love the musee d’orsay. Did you see the polar bear?
      It seems really strange given your experience and interests, that museums haven’t been something you enjoy. I’m lucky in London, that visiting a museum is something I can do on a whim, for a short time, or just to spend time with one favourite picture, without cost.

      So glad that you enjoyed it. I agree with previous poster that the Botticellis in the Uffizi are worth time. Look at the brushwork and the incredible amount of flora and fauna in Primavera.

    18. Jill Smith

      Such a wonderful trip!! My husband and I returned from Paris this week and loved it! The beauty of the doors, shutters, planter boxes is like no other. The Louve wasn’t originally on our list, but we decided to tour. It, too, was amazing. The shear size of the paintings is incredible, the age and the condition they are in is remarkable. Notre Dame has some spectacular windows. Please drop a note when you’re in DC, I’d love to tour with you!

      • Marian Parsons

        Will do! I don’t think Jeff and the boys will want to go to an art museum, so we can walk and look together!

    19. Cindy Rosborough

      If you can squeeze it in, go to Musée de l’Orangerie… Monet’s huge Water Lilies paintings are there, in an oval room. It’s just so beautiful. I was in Paris almost 30 years ago and my best memories are of Musee D’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie. What a great adventure you are on!

    20. Nancy Johnson

      I love the selfie guy! And I love your clothes; you look wonderful. If you go to one famous Paris cafe, go to Les Deux Magots on the Left Bank and take a break with a glass of wine to people watch. As a bonus, just down the street at 52 Rue de Rennes, the Monoprix supermarket carries the best salt I’ve ever had. Yes, salt. Who knew? It is called Terre Exotique and comes in many “flavors” in adorable little tins. You’ll love the tins and love the salt. (Deux Magots has a great website; see the history portion.)

      • Marian Parsons

        We actually ate just one street over from Les Deux Magots! I didn’t know that was a famous place or we would’ve eaten there. Always too much to do!

    21. Phyllis

      I love Paris. Musee d’Orsay is my favorite museum. Montmartre is a gorgeous quartier – home of many of the painters of the day – and the Moulin Rouge etc. The home and garden of Claude Monet is a must, and you get to take the train to Vernon which is a very enjoyable little trip. Call me morbid, but I love a walk around Pere Lachaise cemetery where anybody who was anybody, is buried. (Including Jim Morrison). Marian, you brought back so many memories of our good times in this fabulous city….you need at least three months to see what it has to offer. Safe travelling and keep us posted.

    22. Denise

      Oh my! It’s not a tomayto/tomato thing. D’Orsay is pronounced door-say. If you’ve heard it any other way, the speaker didn’t know French.
      Thanks for sharing your photos. I love those museums.

    23. Pamela

      How this brought back memories of our two trips to Paris. We were there for a trade show both times which is held in March/April. Not a high time for tourists unless it is around Spring Break. But I spent 3 days in the Louvre (the weather outside is cold and rainy that time of year so perfect to be indoors) and still did not see it all. The wonderful thing was there was no one in the museums. In some areas I couldn’t even find a person to take a photo of me with a painting to get perspective. It was quiet and I could study the art for hours. I agree, seeing the art in person gives you so much more than in photos or books. I found it fascinating to view the artists set up in the Louvre copying some of the masters, watching them paint was wonderful.
      I think what is tough for me with impressionism (loving my classes I am taking) is being so loose and suggestive with the strokes instead of precise. Coming from a decorative painting background I tend to try and get too controlling.

    24. Kathy Egli

      Marian-
      Love, Love, Loved all the photographs, I visited Paris in 1989 and loved every second. My favorite photographs you shared are of the museum ceiling and the cattle painting. I hope the ceiling photo inspires you to either paint something or design fabric with that feel.
      Safe travels,
      Kathy

    25. Debbie

      I too love all your wonderful pictures, we will be there in two weeks to celebrate our 7th Anniversary doing the Paris to Normandy Viking Cruise. Now I can’t wait to also visit the museums on our daily tours.
      If you have a moment, can you post what the weather/temp is there now.
      Thank you, Debbie

    26. Debra

      Oh My Goodness!! How magnificent are those museums! You are living my dream to go there. What a wonderful opportunity. Enjoy!

    27. Peg

      Thank you so much for sharing with us. So inspirational!

    28. Eileen

      Thanks for the museum tour. I just loved your selfie!

    29. Julie | Home On The Hill

      I too was surprised Marian to read that you were not previously a museum lover – but better late than never to be awakened to the joy of museums!

      When travelling I have a rough guideline to follow – if a place is world famous then there is probably good reason for that – so I usually make the effort to see why even if it’s doesn’t really sound that interesting to me – more than once I have been pleasantly surprised.

      Sometimes a painting isn’t that appealing in subject matter or style, but the frame it’s in can be a work of art in itself – usually something worthwhile to find in most museums even if it’s the building you are admiring and not it’s contents!

      • Jinny

        Good points, Julie! I dragged my children and in return they dragged me to places we weren’t sure would be of total interest to all. Those side trips and main events are still strong memories. But, as you said, if it’s famous there’s a reason. Travel requires a very open mind to the new, different and unique.

    30. Celeste

      If I remember correctly from a special exhibit of Monet at the Chicago Art Museum MANY years ago, one of the contributing factors to Monet’s changing painting style was severe arthritis. In his later years, he had to have the brush tied to his hand because he couldn’t hold the brush with his fingers. You can definitely see the way his painting changed throughout his life. So I suppose he wasn’t as happy with his later paintings and may not have wanted them displayed. Just something that popped up through the trivia soup of my brain.

    31. Valerie

      Thanks for sharing your museum experiences. It brings back many memories when I went with my daughter in 2006. Love it all! There’s a wonderful, but small impressionist only museum in Washington DC. worth investigating. Enjoy!

    32. Sandy

      with your talent you should definitely visit the National Gallery in DC, my art class takes the train from Richmond periodically to visit – the collection is breathtaking, you would really enjoy – also the Phillips Collection —thanks so much for sharing 🙂

    33. Roberta Herget

      What an absolutely wonderful trip you’re on. I am so envious. I’m a senior citizen and one of my dreams, because I haven’t been very many places, is Italy and Paris. Hopefully I’ll get there , but if I don’t I’m certainly enjoying your postings and all the lovely pictures. I certainly agree with you that when you see the pictures up close they look entirely different than when you see a picture of the original. Thank you dear Miss Mustard Seed. Keep up the posts and I can hardly wait till you get back and have time to post more. I’m living vicariously through you.❤
      Roberta Herget
      Portland, Oregon

    34. Sharon Hankins

      Oh I was so hoping you’d get to see all the furniture at the Louvre. SO much amazing furniture in the Napoleon’s Apartments wing and all the Marie Antoinette furniture. I easily breezed through all the artwork, then we went down further to another whole wing and voila! French provincial furniture heaven!

    35. Julia Dashwood

      The Louvre was the home of the French kings from the early 13th century (when it was a castle) to the late 17th century when Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles.

      Your critique of Monet’s per-impressionist work was most amusing. When you have had the chance to study art you may well be mortified by your pre-artist impression. You are indeed lucky to start your education at the largest and most respected art museum in the world. There are numerous wonderful art museums in your area and I’ll bet you will be inspired to continue your education by them.

    36. Janet in Kansas City

      Some time you will have to visit Amsterdam for the Rijksmuseum and the Rembrandts then the Van Gogh museum. Incredible.

    37. Jan

      What a great trip you are sharing with your mom! I encourage you to take your boys and husband to a local museum. You can make a fun day out of it. There is a lot to learn by looking at art and some great family discussions can come from this type of exposure. Art is storytelling of the finest order via visual interpretation.
      A docent tour for beginning art appreciators is helpful. I guarantee they will never forget their first art museum visit.

    38. Nancy

      One of the things I love about the ART Museum in Chicago is the history of art lesson you get while following the progression of paintings. When I saw my first Rembrandt I was simply in awe of how the paint he globbed on a canvas can morph into a face, etc. I think my favorite artists are the Pre-Raphaelites, but the Impressionists sure are impressive! See what I did There? I’ve been to the big name art museums in England and Scotland, but the Louvre is definitely on my bucket list. And now the Musee D’Orsay.

    39. Sandy R.

      Thank you for taking us with you on your trip! Brings back good memories of my 2 trips to Paris, would love to go again, so much to enjoy. I haven’t been to the D’Orsay yet. Looks you are having nice weather, fall has come to the Pacific NW and the rain has started here.

    40. maureen hughes

      Marian,
      The pretend “selfie” is my all time favorite of your pictures. Thank you so much for letting us live the trip through your posts. I am so glad you saw the Mona Lisa. I just finished reading “Vanished Smile-The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa’ by R.A. Scotti. It is fascinating.. other famous artists facts told and theories about the actual thief/thieves. It also comes in audio book form for long car trips. It is a must read when you return. I am really enjoying walking the streets of Paris through your eyes..and no blisters! LOL

    41. Botanic Bleu

      Marian,
      To relive my visits to Paris museums through your lens and comments has awakened the feelings of awe and joy I felt when I saw them. Your joy, wonderment, and fresh eyes seeing masterpieces reminds me of my own. Thank you for sharing your experiences, your photos and for your wide-eyed innocence at the world opened anew to you. It reminds me of the ingenue in My Fair Lady. I can identify. I was a young, untravelled girl who walked around with my head thrown back taking in everything.

      I can’t wait to see what else you share!

      Judith

    42. Louise

      We just returned yesterday from a 3 week plus of Europe and London. I too found the Louve to be one of our least favorite museums. It was beautiful but after a while the paintings seemed “all the same”. We enjoyed the smaller museums with their more diverse selections. You will find that many of the museums in other cities like Rome will have similar artists displayed. We climbed the “real” Arc de Triomphe to the top and that alone was a triumph as I am 80! It is a lot of circular stairs in a tight space but spectacular views from the top. I hope you had a chance to sit at an outdoor cafe and people watch while enjoying the wonderful way the French can prepare a simple vegetable dish to taste so good! It is fun to read your blog and your highlights with my highlights still fresh in mind. Enjoy.

    43. Andrea

      The world of the art museum awaits you! The Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth is my current local. Did you weat your LinenBees tunic? Mune feels so “arty”, and that is what I will be wearing next time I go to my all-time heart favorite, the Art Institute of Chicago, I have airline credits burning a hole in my pocket right now and Chicago is calling my name!

      • Marian Parsons

        It is one of their dresses. I have it in three colors and it’s been so comfortable to wear while traveling. And it’s not been out of place at all. Linen dresses are everywhere!

    44. Connie

      One of the things I really enjoyed at the Louvre were all the tapestries! And of course as you say just the building itself! You need full 12 hour days for a week or more o really “see” the Louvre! We enjoyed the d’Orsay more but never made it to the top; although the views of Paris from the Sacre’-Coeur in Montmartre were fabulous, as was that whole area! Am so enjoying your IG posts & stories of your wonderful trip Marian, thank you for taking time out while you are there to share all this thru your eyes!!

    45. Susan

      At first I thought you were pulling our legs about not going to art museums! Because you live all things artistic, I just assumed you’d be an art museum junkie. Now that you’ve crossed the threshold, I hope you will seek them out whenever you travel. When I was in my teens and twenties, I only liked the Impressionist paintings (the femininity, colors, and prettiness). My art classes helped me appreciate other periods and styles as well Now I even love abstract art (something I never “got” before). So glad you didn’t pass up those two spectacular museums! Have fun!

      • Marian Parsons

        Yes, I will definitely visit museums and exhibits now when I can. I really enjoyed the experience!

    46. Louise

      Marian, I just love going through Paris with you as that’s as close as I will ever get. Loved all the art pictures in the museums. I love love love to see those amazing huge buildings . I’m 74 years old and just got to go to Washington DC for the first time. The buildings were the most amazing part for me and I loved them. I went with a group so I didn’t get to go to all the museums in the mall. I want to go back to see more. I love your blog and thanks for sharing with us,

    47. ART

      The art is amazing….but those herringbone oak floor are <3 …..(I think I have a problem, that this is what I noticed…lol)

      • Marian Parsons

        Oh, I love those floors, too!

    48. Victoria

      I do am rather flummoxed that a person interested in art never goes to museums. Minneapolis, too, has a fine art museum (probably more than one). I also think it’s important to take children to museums, perferably starting when they are young. They can be taken to exhibits like Egyptian mummies, etc., that they might find very interesting. Just don’t wear them out by being there for hours on end.
      And don’t assume men won’t find them interesting. In my early years dating my future husband, on a trip to Chicago we made sure to see both “male” things (Cubs, White Sox) and “female” (Art Institute, outdoor sculptures, theater). He liked them.
      Washington has great art museums other than just the National Gallery. Check descriptions of Hirshhorn, Freer, etc., part of the Smithsonian. Of course they are free.

      • Marian Parsons

        Well, I’ve only been really interested in studying art for the past year or two, so my interest has been recent. I am hooked, now, though! I did go to a lot of museums when we lived in Germany, though, and I got to see the statue of David, etc. I just appreciate them in a fresh way. 🙂

    49. Dorothy

      Nice photos, but lose the Mustard Seed logo. That art is mot your art and shouldn’t be used to advertise your business.

      • Marian Parsons

        I did take the photos, though, so that is why they are watermarked. I am not claiming the art as my own, but the photograph.

    50. Mac

      Glad to see you “got it.”

    51. Julia

      Dorothy is correct, most museums and art galleries prohibit publishing of photographs taken in the premises. You can only take photographs for private use and publishing them on your blog/wesite that is a for profit operation is illegal, and imprinting them with your logo is very very illegal (international law). You might be able to get away with it if you publish full credit and seek authorizatibfor each museum. That said I loved the photos, particularly the ‘selfie’.

      • Marian Parsons

        Thanks for letting me know. Photos were permitted in both museums and I didn’t see any signage about not being able to share them. I did remove the images from the post where the frames weren’t visible. My point was to show the closeups of the brush strokes, but I didn’t show the paintings in their entirety. Anyway, I don’t want to be a rule-breaker, but just wanted to share my experience!

    52. Lyn

      My sister and I spent 5 hours in the d’Orsay when we were in Paris last November! One of my favorite museums!! Glad you enjoyed your “museum time”. 🙂

      • Marian Parsons

        It was beautiful!

    53. JeanFB

      Love your photos, and so happy you got to go to both of the “big” art museums! Musée d’Orsay is also my very favorite- for both the art and the ambience, but the Louvre is so very splendid as well, even from an architectural standpoint. I had to laugh when you mentioned whether Monet would appreciate some of his works hanging in a museum – I was just at an exhibit of French Pastels at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, and there were some Degas in the exhibit that I am sure he would have been mortified to see on display! Think bodies that were positioned in completely impossible poses! One piece even had a caption that said he had erased and redrawn a dancer’s leg 5 times – let me tell you, he still didn’t get it right, LOL! As an aside, I second the idea of going to the Art Institute of Chicago sometime too – they have a lovely impressionist and post-impressionist collection. Thanks for keeping us up to date on your trip via Instagram stories, etc. Love following along with you!

      • Marian Parsons

        That Degas exhibit sounds great! So funny about the leg. Makes me feel better when I have to draw things multiple times and it still looks bad! 🙂 We happened upon a temporary pastel exhibit in the Louvre, which was the largest pastel exhibit in the world and it was so beautiful! So much talent.

    54. Linda

      You should definitely plan a visit to the Philidelphoa Museum of Art. Personally, we prefer it to the DC National Gallery. It’s beautiful; it’s quiet and typically not crowded. Some paintings may move you to tears. They did me much to my astonishment! We love the D’Orsay too.
      Mary Cassatt, Monet, Renior, Matisse, van Gogh and the variety of work is amazing. It is a world class museum!

    55. Katie Mansfield

      Yes. Seeing the paintings in person gave me goose bumps. I much preferred the D’Orsay too but it was worth it to see the Louvre. I’m so glad you got to do this. We were there a year ago and I feel like I’m reliving it through your blog posts.

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This