Musee d’ Orsay

                               Antique-French-frame 

Musee d'Orsay in Paris has Monet, Renoir, Manet, Picasso, Degas, Corot, Van Gogh… to name a few. The paintings are breathtaking and I never tire standing in awe by them. This time while at the Musee d'Orsay I asked if I could take photos. I was surprised to learn that if I did not use a flash I could take as many photos as I pleased.

So I did.

                              Claude-Monet 

Claude Monet. As I was focusing on one of the lilies I noticed his name… Have you ever noticed his signature? I hadn't. The lilies I have seen and admired but never have I stopped to notice the signature nor the frames to these masterpieces.

I became the nutty tourist running around taking photos of signatures, corners of frames and other tiny details such as brush strokes and closeups of hands.

Corot  French-frame 

                                Renoir's-signature 

                                                                Renoir's

Van-gogh-straw 

Van Gogh's golden straw. Van Gogh signed his paintings: "Vincent" and often in the strokes of color of his painting's background.

                                         Gilded-French-frame 

Paintings-in-Musee-d'Orsay 

Gilded wood and plaster each frame is unique, artwork in itself. Rows and rows of art… at every angle, in perfection.

      Clock-at-Musee-d'-Orsay 

Musee d'Orsay's two famous clocks are surrounded by gilded frames. Chunky monkey frames. The Enameled numerals were my height.

                                  Musee-d-Orsay-paintings

Dabs of paint, splashes of color, defined brush strokes, genius works of art… frame the stories, history and lifestyles of these artists. The expressions of time, place, emotion… moments that do not change with time, layers upon layers of intertwined lives caught on canvas surrounded by golden halos.

Monet's lilies silently float.

Renoir 

Musee d'Orsay



Comments

44 responses to “Musee d’ Orsay”

  1. Lucky lady! What a treat it would be to go to Musee d’Orsay, as I love all of the impressionist artist’s paintings.
    Like so many people Monet is my favorite and I’ve seen many of his paintings in the collections of and at special exhibits in NY, Boston, Chicago, DC, Philadelphia and some smaller museums in Canada.
    I’ve always been amazed that you can walk right up to paintings that sell for millions and millions of dollars.
    Your frame photos are beautiful. Thank you, Corey!

  2. Love this shift in perspective this morning.
    The Orsay is one of my favorite museums. I took a ton of pictures when I was there in 2000.
    Your photo’s were a lovely reminder of why I need to make a return trip.

  3. I love these frames !!! I like the frames as much as the paintings

  4. Your life is your canvas.
    Splash upon it all the paint you can.
    Love you
    You are a work of art.
    Love Jeanne

  5. Kristin Wight

    This is one of my most favorite museums! I never heard of it until I went to Paris backpacking with a friend. We had just finished art school and were visiting all of the museums we could afford to go into. When we read about the Musee d’Orsay, we knew we had to visit. I was in awe of the building! I don’t think I really got to appreciate the paintings. I had never seen a building repurposed for another use with so much success! I dream of the day I can go back. I want to show my husband. Last time we did museums, we had to do the Louvre (as one does) but next time its Orsay! I had to buy a book of the paintings hung there so I could actually see them after I left!
    Have you been to Giverney? This is the place where Monet was inspired to paint the lillies and his garden scenes.

  6. You are just feeding our anticipation. We just booked tickets for April in Paris and then to Champagne and Alsace. So anxious to spend more time in Paris. Only there for a long weekend. Love your perspective of the art. Thanks. Susan

  7. I could just imagine being in the presence of those works of art!

  8. I’ve only been to Paris once, and was so amazed at the people-friendliness of both the Louvre and Orsay. Many tourists were taking pictures. Those places are just vibrant with people enjoying art- the Picasso museum is also very beautiful.

  9. I love your abstract photos! Perfect.
    And I won’t miss this museum on my next (hopefully soon) trip to Paris.
    Now… back to work! LOL

  10. Hi. Can you give us an update on Eva and Mathieu?

  11. Now I want to go back and take photos like that! What a great idea!

  12. I absolutely love these photographs of details that get missed in trying to “see it all.” Thanks for this; perhaps the start of a series???

  13. lovely collage of photos…
    hope you are feeling better…

  14. I love the details too – carved wood flowers and brushstrokes.
    I loved Musee d’Orsay the one time I was there. Such a wonderful space – full of light and life.

  15. How beautiful!!!! I missed the Orsay on my last trip but after seeing your beautiful photos will make sure I get there next fall. Merci!!!

  16. I love Monet’s work. Seeing a real piece of it for the first time several years ago brought me to tears.
    Isn’t it strange how the really big museums don’t care if you take photos but our local museum here won’t allow it…go figure.

  17. Life is in the details
    and the view from the rooftop at Musee d’Orsay is brilliant

  18. Corey, you said:
    “The expressions of time, place, emotion… moments that do not change with time, layers upon layers of intertwined lives caught on canvas surrounded by golden halos.”
    You have such a magical way with words! One of my college professors awarded us for using such beautiful written language… I think you would have been his star pupil for the decade!!!!

  19. HA! I should have said “rewarded”, not “awarded”! So much for MY language! lol

  20. My all time favorite museum. Thanks for showing the details. Sometimes we forget to look at them.

  21. The Orsay was one of our favorite museum excursions. We have been to Paris twice and looked forward to seeing more of the beautiful masterpieces. I think the arched line of the Orsay compliments the artwork so perfectly. The windows, the light, the clocks. Sigh…I just want to go back.
    I too love the little details. I got fussed at in a museum in San Francisco for taking a close up of the brush strokes on a rabbit painting. Oh well, I got my picture first, hehe.

  22. It’s an incredible museum. I also have a picture of that amazing clock, Corey.
    P.S. – What about your story of Judy and you at the dance classes?!?! :o)

  23. There was an impreessionist show at thhe local museum a few years ago. The Monet, Manet, Van Gogh etc. were gorgeous but equally as beautiful were the handcarved gilt frames. Just like you photographed!

  24. SO LOVELY!!! If I ever get to Paris, that museum is at the top of the list of sights I want to see! Thanks for taking us with you through your photos today!

  25. I so enjoyed your perspective this morning, I love how you took the close-up photos and hearing your thoughts. Thank you!

  26. The one and only time that I’ve ever been to France was a quick week long visit to Paris on the way to London when I was 21. I thought that the people were nice even though I only managed to learn a handful of phrases. The rest was done via Italian and hand gestures. LOL But I still fondly remember d’Orsay and the Picasso museum. Those were two of the most enjoyable museums that I’ve visited. Thanks for sharing all those gorgeous details with us.

  27. I’ve done the same at the Legion of Honor. There’s so much to see, so much to absorb.

  28. The 4th picture from the top took my breath away. The frame is stunning!
    I like this perspective.

  29. Deborah P

    Is this the museum in the Tuilerie Gardens? I was introduced to Corot in that museum in the mid-70s and fell in love with his landscapes as well as Monet’s Vetheuil (sp?) pictures. Still dream of them!

  30. What a coincidence! I just did a post this morning on the Impressionists as well.
    I loved the Museé d’Orsay – and hope to return again one day.
    Lorrie

  31. Nothing can prepare you for seeing an original Van Gogh. There are no printing processes that can hope to translate the genius of his stroke work. It’s stunning.
    – Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

  32. Hi Corey,
    I am trying to play catch up, as I was gone for a long weekend.
    How wonderful that Mary got to meet and visit with you.
    The new baby is beautiful!!
    So sorry you all got colds.
    Beautiful paintings too!!!
    Glad to be back catching up with you.
    Rosemary

  33. Cheryl in California

    I remember my first time in the d’Orsay…I came around a corner and was nearly felled by the sight of Renoir’s painting of the two young girls at the piano. All I could do was stand and stare…for a long time!! The Musee d’Orsay will always be my favorite museum.

  34. Julie Ann

    That was lovely Corey. I visited with my Mother and loved it. Just the right size to be manageable. I really liked your observations of the often overlooked details; the frames, the clocks, the signatures – just exactly the sort of things I would run around admiring and photographing – you should see my pix of French wrought iron gates !! Jx

  35. Corey,
    Thank you for giving me a peek into one of my dreams, to stand in front of these paintings and gaze until my heart is content. Someday I plan to do it for real but for now you have refueled the desire and whetted the appetite.

  36. Breathtakingly beautiful!! While the paintings are wonderful I also believe that the art is in the details which are overlooked.
    Wonderful job of showcasing the “details”
    Kris

  37. Corey I appreciate the frames as much as the paintings! Beautiful details and in some cases the frame took more time than the picture. Thank you for sharing! Blessings, Kimberly

  38. i like you could stand hours in awe of these works. i have always especially liked impresionism and love renoir.
    i’m also a details person. they are the hidden treasures to delight in.

  39. Corey,
    This is one of my favorite posts by you.
    These wonderful close-ups highlight the human craftsmanship – the heart and soul effort that went in to these canvases and frames.
    By the way, d’Orsay has a pretty cool restaurant on the top floor with a neat view and over-the-top chandeliers.

  40. Elaine L.

    I love the photos that you took. My husband’s father was a painter, so my husband really knows how to appreciate art.
    I love to view art with him, because he notices the smallest details that I might miss, such as how a small brush stroke can bring expression to the eye or change a sharp nose to a rounded one.
    I think we our godliness is expressed through the arts.
    ~elaine~

  41. Loved those pictures. Have you been to the La Orangerie on the grounds of the Louvre? It’s been closed for a long time but is now open. It really impressed me because it was small and had a beautiful collection plus Monet’s Lillies that take up two whole rooms. Would love to see your photos of that museum. Thanks for taking me back….

  42. HI Corey,
    The French Impressionists are among my favorite painters- I also love The group of 7 and Emily Carr who are all Canadian painters. I have never been to Orsay as the Impressionists used to be housed in the jeu de Paume and l’Orangerie which were buildings at the end of the Louvre( we came to Paris in 1985)I loved seeing all the big masterpieces- a book can’t possible give you any sense of the true size of some of those canvases.
    I loved seeing van Gogh and I agree that there is no way to capture the texture of his works- his sunflowers is one of my favorite paintings.
    What a great tour of the details that you noticed. I love seeing these works through your camera lenses- as always your view was fresh and unique- Thanks so much for sharing..
    Regards,
    Anna

  43. Yes, what a treat! I found that out at the Musée National d’Art Moderne (Centre Pompidou) when I was there last spring. I had thought, like you, that photography was forbidden.
    Your post is beautiful — but I must admit you had pretty great material to work with, lol!

  44. Mika McDonald

    I used to be an opera singer…well that’s what I was trained as and it was what I spent my first (personal) 20 thousand in student loans for. When I became a “grown up” and realized that making a living in the arts would be more difficult that let on at school (SF Conservatory of music) I went back to school (le cordon bleu) and became a pastry chef….just a bit of background. 🙂
    I look at these pictures of frames and I am reminded of my last trips to Italy. I love what I do now as much as I love singing and I get a kick out looking at the world as if it could all be made out of sugar somehow. When I was in Italy I took a million pics of door knockers and imagined them all as fondant now I look at the frames and an doing the same thing. Fun fun fun!!! So sweet! thanks for the new jolt of inspiration. I never seem to be able to find such textures in California. All of the frames in our local museum are modern these days.

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