Tag Archives: Art History

The Orangerie

The Orangerie

Ann: despite the constant cold rain today, the lure of the Orangerie was irresistable.

Derain, The Niece, Orangerie

Derain, The Niece…,1931

 

The Orangerie is a manageable size, compared to the Musee d’Orsay and certainly to the Louvre.

Thus I was able to visit this, my favorite, several times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picasso, Orangerie, Woman in a White Hat

Picasso, Woman in a White Hat, 1920

 

Even in the rain, lines and lines of people: the Museum Pass saved me. Using the special door for advanced reservations, I entered within a minute.

Thus I was quickly able to see this intriguing Picasso.

 

 

 

 

 

Cezanne Orangerie Portrait of his son

Cezanne, Portrait of his son, 1881

The Orangerie is known for its set of Monet’s “Water Lillies.” They are in the basement. Perhaps less well known is that the Orangerie is also home of the collection of Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume.

Guillaume was a Paris art dealer, collector and supporter of some of the Impressionists. Upon his death in 1934, his wife Jean Walter completed his collection and donated it to the French state in 1954. The collection is full of the works of Renoir, Cezanne, Rousseau, Modigliani, Matisse, Picasso, Derain, Utrillo, and Soutine.

 

Matisse, The Violinist, Orangerie

Matisse, the Violinist

 

I saw only one painting of Matisse that I had ever viewed before (and that was in San Francisco). To see all those others felt so fresh and inspiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renoir, Claude Renoir, Orangerie

Renoir, Claude Renoir, 1905

The trip was well worth the raindrops.