– Museum of Romantic Life, www.vie-romantique.paris.fr, Paris 8e
A romantic house from the XIXe th century in a charming garden where you can have a tea break after the visit

– Museum Jacquemart-André, www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/home, Paris 17e
A beautiful mansion from XIXe th century with a collection of paintings and objets d’art from the XVIIIe th and XIX th century, with a beautiful tea room

– Musée Cernuschi, www.cernuschi.paris.fr/en/home, Paris 8e
Bronze of Imperial China, from Xth to XIXth century, in a charming museum of asian art, near Parc Monceau

– Musée Guimet, www.guimet.fr , Paris 16e
Rosanjin art, genius of japanese cooking, in the biggest museum of asian art of Paris

and discover Paris while walking using our “Artistic Itineraries ” to download and follow on your smartphone

The Pinacoteca of Paris offers us until March 17, two exhibitions coupled: Hiroshige, The Art of Travel and Van Gogh, Dreams of Japan, highlighting how this Japanese art of printmaking and in particular that of the master Utagawa Hiroshige influenced Van Gogh in his creation.
It is difficult to imagine in 2012, in the era of Internet and unlimited access to the information available in the world, how could be upsetting for the French Impressionists, and Van Gogh in particular, the discovery of a radically new representation proposed by these Japanese prints. A photographic framing with off-center subjects or zoom on the foreground figures, bold colors with blue, red, yellow, importance given to landscape and nature, series representations depending on the season or time of the day, moving figures in postures of daily living (running under the rain, for example), many innovations that inspired Van Gogh when he discovered them during the late nineteenth century in Antwerp and at the Parisian art dealer Bing, a great admirer and promoter of “Japonism” which influenced the Impressionists (Monet, Manet, …) and Art Nouveau in the early twentieth century.
Both exhibitions, see successively Hiroshige first and second Van Gogh, were designed quite remarkable to show us the specifics of prints of a great master on the one hand and the influence they had on a Van Gogh in search of exoticism. Colors, compositions, topics, framing, were transformed by Van Gogh in the south of France, in Saint Rémy de Provence, inspired by this dreamed Japan (see our picture above the Olive groves fromVan Gogh and the image at the bottom of the article Pines in Sea Side by Hiroshige).

A beautiful time of discoveries and colorful journey to live absolutely                         www.pinacotheque.com

The Dome of Galeries Lafayette celebrates its 100 th anniversary and offers the opportunity of a highly original exhibition at La Galerie des Galeries (the art galery at the 1st floor of the store). Following the creative path, we discover how this amazing dome made of glass and steel, in a perfect Art Nouveau style, created in 1912 by the architect Ferdinand Chanut and the master glassmaker Jacques Gruber, following a neobyzantine inspiration, helped the popularity of the building.
At the same time, was created by Louis Majorelle, another great master of l’Ecole de Nancy, the majestic staircase decorated with floral subjects (which no longer exists) and the ironwork balconies that give the building its so famous theatrical setting.

Galeries Lafayette each year attract 30 million visitors. In 2011, it has been recorded 38 million visitors in Paris … this is by far one of the most visited places in Paris !

Beyond shopping, this is a must see for any discoverer of the capital and the French elegance.

Galeries Lafayette wish to cultivate this image avant garde initiated by  the Dome and its revolutionary architecture of glass and steel at the beginning of the twentieth century. La Galerie des Galeries contributes largely presenting creations in the field of visual arts, fashion and design, focusing on highly original scenographies.

An exhibition to discover until 26 january.
www.galeriedesgaleries.com

– Maillol Museum : Canaletto in Venezia (see our article)  www.museemaillol.com A pleasant exhibition about this famous vedute maker and a step on our “Montparnasse – Rue du Bac Artistic Itinerary” to download 

– Jacquemart-André Museum : Canaletto and Guardi www.canaletto-guardi.com/en
An exhibition about Canaletto and his follower Guardi, famous for his caprici (whims), sort of imaginated landscapes. Also an opportunity to discover Jacquemart-André Museum and its exiting area downloading our “Monceau-Ternes Artistic Itinerary “

– Orsay Museum : Impressionism and Fashion www.musee-orsay.fr
An elegant testimony of Impressionism period

– Luxembourg Museum : The modern art club, avant-garde collectors in Le Havre www.museeduluxembourg.fr
An interesting collection of french  modern art and an opportunity to stroll in the beautiful Luxembourg garden enjoying its autumn colors 

– Grand Palais : Bohemias www.rmn.fr 
How Bohemia and Bohemians were treated in painting

– Musée de Montmartre : Autour du Chat Noir www.museedemontmartre.fr
An exhibition on the famous Cabaret “Le Chat Noir” (the black cat) and the artistic life in Montmartre at the end of the XIX th century. Also a charming place in the eart of Montmartre vineyards. A step on our next Itinerary to be published in October !

– Romantic Life Museum : Romantic Interiors (see our article)
A collection of XIXth century watercolors on european interiors. Also an opportunity to stroll in the nice area of “La nouvelle Athènes” nearby. Our next Artistic Itinerary to be published in October !

Enjoy your visits and extend it downloading The Unsuasual Artistic Itineraries from Parisforart ! 

The Jacquemart-André Museum proposes until 14 January a beautiful exhibition about the two Venetian masters : Canaletto and Guardi. We discover the vedute from the two painters with a 3D effect, a work on light and a fine touch from Canaletto, while Guardi favors a touch more vivid and large almost impressionistic. Whims are also honored. These imaginary views including ruins in an antique style, contributed greatly to the success of Guardi. Our favorite is this Venetian campiello Caprice, a large gouache on paper, deep blue.
Do not forget to admire Bellotto’s small paintings, with an amazing realism !

An exhibition to discover on the  Unusual Artistic Itinerary    Monceau-Ternes to download on parisforart.com

Paris, Musée Jacquemart-André – Institut de France ; © Studio Sébert Photographes

The Museum of Romantic Life offers until January 13 a delicious exhibition dedicated to Romantic Interiors in Europe and Russia with 80 watercolors (between 1820 and 1890) from the private collection of Eugene V. Thaw.
These watercolors are to be contemplated carefully in order to detect the charming details of these refined interiors: ray of light bathed living, delicate bouquet placed on a dresser, silky fabric adorning a window, or share moments of privacy in a family music room or surprise king Louis-Philippe in his study at the castle of Neuilly. Our Favorite is this amazing watercolor from Louise Cochelet, a friend and reader of Hortense de Beauharnais, dating from 1816, showing her living room on Lake Constance. Particularly simple, this daydream is a stunning modern for the period. An exhibition to discover taking your time.
http://www.paris.fr/loisirs/musees-expos/musee-de-la-vie-romantique/interieurs-romantiques-aquarelles-1820-1890/rub_5851_actu_117547_port_24533 (only in a French Version !)

A milestone on the “Trinité to Montmartre Itineray” to be published in October !

The Maillol Museum offers until February 10 the exhibition Canaletto in Venice. We discover the famous Venetian vedute who made the fame of the artist, and  quickly understand why this success was so fast and durable.
Canaletto had developed an innovative approach for the treatment of perspective that he steadily improved, and this was combined with research to make light natural.
Drawings, use of the camera obscura (optical device for projecting a real view on a paper in order to draw it), juxtaposition of different and concomitant viewpoints make this Venetian life becomes more lifelike with a peak for this “Staircase of the Giants in the Ducal Palace” (174 x 136 cm, our photograph) where the 3D effect is such that we would like to enter the picture! Awesome! Venetian getaway in the heart of Paris and step on the Artistic Itineray from Montparnasse to Rue du Bac to download 

(19th June to 30th September), closed on Mondays
www.chateaudeversailles.fr

This year, it is Joana Vasconcelos’ turn to be the face of contemporary art at Versailles, after Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Xavier Veilhan and Bernar Venet.
The work of this artist, who is taking over the mythical areas of the Château de Versailles and its gardens, is both exuberant and sophisticated. She has created monumental pieces, specially designed with quite astonishing materials: fabrics, plastic cutlery, an engine, steel pans and lids, crochet lace, feathers… taking everyday objects and transforming them with creativity and humour.

Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), Marmottan Monet Museum

(8th March – 29th July), 2 rue Louis Boilly, 16th arrondissement, Tel. +331 44 96 50 33, Underground: La Muette, closed on Mondays
www.marmottan.com

This is the first retrospective of Berthe Morisot, the renowned female impressionist and muse of Edouard Manet, who painted images of childhood and gentle rural landscapes.
Our view : It offers the opportunity to discover or rediscover the museum’s permanent collections, the works by Monet, but also a fabulous collection of furniture and Empire objets d’art within a magnificent private mansion.

Degas et le nu, Orsay Museum

((13th March – 1st July 2012), 1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 7th arrondissement,
Underground: Concorde, then take the underground passage and the footbridge from the Tuileries, closed on Mondays
www.musee-orsay.fr 

Our view : This very beautiful exhibition highlights Degas’ modern side, stemming in particular from the range of techniques employed, and the influence he exerted on his contemporaries.
It is important to bear in mind that creations are linked to the techniques employed.
An artist does not create the same type of work with oil on canvas as with watercolour for example, photographers are always searching for new framings, engraving allows an artist to play with shadows and full and empty space. Degas often used monotype, which has the advantage of leaving traces of the paper grain which can be used in the creation. This encouraged him to work on blurred, hazy effects, which he used in pastels and then rendered in oil on canvas to produce paintings which were very modern for their era, and even today.