• IL PETIT PALAIS: UNA GEMMA ARTISTICA NEL CUORE DI PARIGI •

In the heart of Paris stands an architectural and artistic jewel of extraordinary beauty: il Small palace, also known as the Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris.
Located in the 8th arrondissement, in Avenue Winston Churchill, this magnificent palace is an unmissable attraction for art and history lovers.
With its fascinating past and exceptional art collections, the Petit Palais enchants visitors from all over the world, offering an extraordinary window into the history and art of Paris.

The story of the Petit Palais

L’edificio del Petit Palais è stato realizzato per l’Universal Exposition of 1900, which had the ambition to celebrate the beginning of the 20th century and the scientific progress of the time.
He was the architect Charles Girault to design the palace which was to represent French art and architecture in all their magnificence. Girault succeeded so well in his aim that, at the end of the Universal Exposition, the building was converted into a permanent art museum.
Now it's there sede of the Museum of Fine Arts of the city of Paris.

The collection of works exhibited today at the Petit Palais offers a overview of French art. However, it also presents works by foreign artists, including paintings from the Italian and Flemish Renaissance and art objects from different eras and cultures. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum hosts regularly temporary exhibitions on different themes and with works by famous artists.

All is imposing and scenic al Petit Palais, starting from the front door, which is probably the most beautiful in Paris.
It's about a monumental door created by Charles Girault and characterized by a huge wrought iron gate. The amazement doesn't stop here, in fact, inside the building the stairs are an important architectural element and contribute to the beauty and harmony of the interiors. Also designed by Charles Girault, the scale they were made of reinforced concrete, a modern technique for the time, and are embellished with a refined and elegant wrought iron railing, which reflects the talent and technical mastery of the architect.

Why visit the Petit Palais

Of all the free museums in Paris, the museum of fine arts at the Petit Palais it is certainly the most beautiful. It is surprising that a museo so rich in works it is completely free. This only increases its charm as it transforms it into a museum that can be visited frequently. If you want, you can enter just to admire a painting and then return a few days later to linger in front of a sculpture.

The main works kept inside the Petit Palais are a a real treasure for art lovers and cover a broad historical period. Works by famous masters such as Rembrandt are on display, Monet, but also of Courbet and Delacroix, just to name a few.
Anyone who visits the Petit Palais can admire painting masterpieces, sculpture, decorative art and jewelry, which testify to the eclecticism and richness of French art over the centuries.

The main works

Among the most famous works exhibited at the Petit Palais is “Sole al tramonto sulla Senna a Lavacourt” (1880) by Monet. This is a painting with a panoramic view of the village of Lavacourt, located on the left bank of the Seine.
Inserted in the center of the composition, the intensely colored sun reflects on the water and fits into an atmosphere where blue dominates. The orange of the sun recalls the famous painting of 1872 “Impression, Sunrise” (Paris, Marmottan Museum), il cui titolo ha dato origine al termine “impressionista”.

Another painting to admire is “The portrait of the artist in oriental costume” (1631-1633) by Rembrandt in which the artist appears wearing luxurious oriental clothes.
In quest’opera, the artist poses like an oriental prince. He wears a feather turban, a satin tunic surrounded by a striped scarf embroidered with gold and precious stones, and a heavy velvet cloak.
Among the dozens of self-portraits by Rembrandt, that of the Petit Palais is the only one in which the artist depicted himself standing. For this reason it is considered one of the most original.

The painting “Grunces and miseries. I saltimbanchi” (1888) by Fernand Pelez is a painting of enormous dimensions. It describes a typical nineteenth-century circus show with three circus characters standing on a platform in the centre. A white clown is standing, dressed in a very baggy costume with a red frog drawn on it. Next to him is the presenter, dressed in a theatrical costume, he awaits the spectators with his hands clasped on his chest. A bell is placed between his feet, while on the far left, a masked dwarf sits on the edge of the platform.
On the left side of the little girls and boys ready to perform, on the right side the musicians waiting to accompany the show with their instruments.

Ithe material of the impressionist painter

Il Petit Palais custodisce anche l’complete equipment of an impressionist painter.
This is the working material of Ernest Jules Renoux. Renoux painted en plein air e, therefore, he had everything he needed to paint outdoors depending on the inspiration of the moment.
The equipment comes from the atelier that the artist had set up in his family home in Romeny-sur-Marne, in the Aisne region, from 1930.
Il Petit Palais è l’only museum in the world which displays the complete equipment of an impressionist artist to the public. In this way it is possible to understand how an artist faithful to the style that was also Monet's worked.

The Petit Palais is therefore much more than a simple museum: it is a cultural treasure that embodies Parisian history and art. Its sumptuous architecture, its exceptional collections and the enchanting atmosphere that envelops it make this museum a must-see for anyone visiting Paris.
Walking through its rooms means taking a journey into art, enrich our lives and open ourselves to new perspectives.

If you are lucky enough to visit Paris, don't miss the opportunity to discover the Petit Palais. Let yourself be transported by the wonders displayed inside, immersing yourself in its unique atmosphere.

Article written in collaboration with Caterina Stringhetta di The Art Post Blog