Musee National Gustave Moreau Overview
Explore Musee National Gustave Moreau
The ground floor of the museum overlooks a garden and has 6 small rooms (A-F). These six rooms have over 400 paintings, hundreds of drawings and collections of art utilities belonging to Moreau on display. Room C, which is known to once serve as the dining hall with a fireplace, now displays the artwork copies made in Italy from various legendary artists. Rooms D-F display the most notable works of Moreau from different years of his life which include Lady Macbeth, Bathsheba, etc.
The first floor of the apartment is the place where Moreau used to stay with his parents and includes all the memories of the Moreau family along with his paintings. After the death of his parents, Moreau modified it and gave it its recent structure, putting the memories of his loved ones in place. He transformed his former bedroom and devoted it to the loving memory of his friend Alexandrine Dureux who died very early. The floor mainly comprises a hallroom, a bedroom which was formerly his mother’s, the dining room, his own room transformed into a boudoir and the reception room.
After the death of his parents, Moreau decided to sacrifice the second floor and build workshops for display to the public. The workshop was personally designed by the young architect Albert Lafon on the special request of the artist. The main purpose of the transformation was to hang large canvases for the common people to discover and admire. It has a large studio room around which his various works are being exhibited.
Just like the 2nd floor, the third floor was also a part of Moreau’s plan of rue de Rochefoucauld, the large two workshops. This floor has two large rooms among which the first room is mainly dominated by Jupiter and Semele made for Leopold Goldschmidt in 1895. He later donated it to the museum in 1903. The second room on the other hand has The Abduction of Europe and Prometheus along with the Unicorns that were perhaps painted around 1885. This floor has in store some of the most magnificent and characteristic works of Moreau and also says a lot about his concepts, ideas and culture.
Collections of the Musee National Gustave Moreau
“The Death of Germanicus” is a painting of Nicolas Poussin made for Fransesco Barbarini. Before the purchase of the painting by the Minneapolis Institute of Art from the Barbarini family, it used to be displayed in the Barbarini palace gallery. Moreau, during his stay in Rome during the mid of 1859, made a full-size copy of the painting
This is an unfinished painting of Moreau and one of the most notable ones. The painting was inspired by the poems and songs of Tyrtaeus whose translations Moreau had in his library. It is a cartoon painting and was a part of a preparatory study from one of the background details of one of the paintings displayed in the second floor.
Edgar Degas always considered Gustav Moreau to be his mentor. He painted his most notable works, “Portrait the Bellelli” Family during the time he encountered Moreau. Degas during 1861-1862 drew a portrait of Gustav Moreau where he sits on a chair, firm and determinant, with his hat lying on the ground.
This is a mythological painting by Moreau which he started working on from 1853 and completed around 1858. The painting shows Hercules and the Theban Princess Alcmane putting the lion of Cithaeron to death for the benefit of both sides. King Thespius, as a gesture of gratitude united his 50 daughters to Hercules who sits in the center with all the 50 girls around him in distinctive positions.
Moreau perhaps started to work on it in the year of 1873. This portrays the triumph of Alexander the Great over the North Indian Porus armies. In the painting, we see the mighty Alexander the Great sitting on a throne. It overlooks the Statue of Victory which evidently signifies the power of his reign.
History of Musee National Gustave Moreau
The Musee National Gustave Moreau was earlier the residence of the Moreau family which consisted of Gustave Moreau and his parents. After the death of his parents, Moreau decided to transform it into a museum to showcase his art works. He sacrificed the second and third floors of his paternal residence into workshops to display to the public. The third floor used to serve him as his studio for his work. Along with his numerous paintings, he also put together several memories of his loved ones to showcase his parents and their lives. He also transformed his bedroom in the second floor into a boudoir in the loving remembrance of his beloved friend Alexandrine Dureux who died too soon. The museum was opened for the common public in 1903, years after his death except the 1st floor apartment that was opened only until 1992. The museum exhibits an excellent collection of all the paintings and sketches of Moreau from all through his years. Moreau was a biblical and mythological artist whose unorthodox style of perspective made him gain praises from critics all over the world.
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Plan Your Visit to Musee National Gustave Moreau
- Location:
14 Rue Catherine de La Rochefoucauld, 75009 Paris, France
- Timings:
10am to 6pm, Tuesday closed
- Best time to visit:
The museum is opened for the public at 10 am in the morning and closes at 6 pm. Therefore one should usually choose the early hours of the day to visit the museum. Besides, you should get your Musee National Gustave Moreau well in advance to avoid standing in the long queue for entry.
- By bus:
Several Line buses like 21 and 74 take you to the museum from the heart of Paris.
- By train:
Line 7 trains can be considered as an option to reach the museum.
- By taxi:
One can also rent a taxi to the museum and it takes less than 10 mins to reach the destination.
- By foot:
Apart from that, you can take a 40 mins long walk from the city of Paris to the museum. Also it is a 2 mins walk from Saint Georges and a 4 mins walk from the Trinite-d’Estienne d’Orves.
The museum is closed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and remains open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Booking your Musee Gustave Moreau tickets well in advance will save you time as it allows you a smooth and easy entry into the museum.
You should at least keep an hour or two reserved for the museum as it will indulge you into its beauty and elegance.
FAQ's About Musee National Gustave Moreau
Why is Musée national Gustave Moreau famous?
The Musee national Gustave Moreau is a residence turned museum that belongs to the symbolic French artist of all times, Gustave Moreau. It displays thousands of his notable artworks and souvenirs of all his life.
Is Musée national Gustave Moreau worth visiting?
The Musee national Gustave Moreau is one of the greatest and finest museums in the world and one should definitely give it a visit during their days in the city of Paris. It displays the symbolic artworks of Moreau and his unorthodox distinctive style of visualization.
What is the best time to visit Musée national Gustave Moreau?
The best time to visit the museum is during weekends as it is closed during Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Also, the museum opens at 10 am and closes at 6 pm so it is advised to book your Musee National Gustave Moreau in advance to save your time.
How long does it take to visit Musée national Gustave Moreau?
It usually takes around an hour or two to explore all the four floors of the museum. Avail your Musee Gustave Moreau tickets prior to your visit to save your precious time.
From where I can book tickets for Musée national Gustave Moreau?
You can book your Musee National Gustave Moreau tickets online from our website. Apart from that, you can also opt for the Paris 2 day museum passes from our site which is inclusive of the Musee Gustave Moreau tickets.
What is the best way to book Musée national Gustave Moreau tickets?
The best way to book Musee national Gustave Moreau is to avail online tickets to have a hassle free experience.
What are the other museums to visit in Paris?
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