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Musee de l'Orangerie

Water Lilies by Impressionist Monet

Located in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, the Musée de l'Orangerie is considered the sanctuary of French Impressionism. The eight pieces of the Water Lilies series by Monet are displayed in two oval galleries on the first floor, and the museum also has paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, Picasso, and others in its collection.

The Musée de l’Orangerie, located inside the Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries), was once a Greenhouse for Citrus Trees in Paris, and was converted into an art gallery in the early 20th century.

The Musée de l’Orangerie is home to eight paintings from the Water Lilies Series (Nymphéas) by French Impressionist master Claude Monet. Monet focused fully on the Water Lilies inside the garden in Giverny in his later years, with eight paintings displayed in Two Oval-shaped Showrooms. The natural illumination from the roof and the order of the paintings are all designed by Monet’s request. The water lilies bloom freely in the sunset by the willow trees, providing a warm and tranquil art space for the viewers.

Manywhere Trivia:
When Impressionism first appeared in the 19th century, it was ridiculed and mocked by the world. The term “Impressionism” comes from Monet’s famous “Impression – Sunrise”, which was used by critics of the time to satirize Impressionist painters and works.

Besides the Water Lilies series donated by Monet, the Musée de l’Orangerie also has the lifelong collection of Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume. The collection includes masterpieces by French Impressionists Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne, as well as works by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, who were heavily influenced by Impressionism and made their mark in the 20th century.

If the collection of more than a hundred masterpieces and colorful thematic exhibitions have ignited the fire of art in your heart, do not hesitate to go out and head straight to the Musée d'Orsay across the Seine. “Luncheon on the Grass”, “Dance at the Moulin-Rouge” and masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rodin, Gauguin, Monet, and others are sure to satisfy your appetite.