RAD blog

The Orangerie

I saw several absolutely breathtaking museums while I was in Paris, and though it is difficult for me to claim one favorite, The Orangerie definitely is in the debate. In my opinion, this tiny, seemingly unheraled museum that is nestled near the more famous Louvre and d'Orsay museums, is an absolute must-see. Not only does it house an awesome collection (in the literal sense of the term), the architecture is simply beautiful as well. This is a small vestibule between the main lobby and the rooms housing its most famous paintings, which are...
Monet's waterlillies. Eight of these enormous paintings are divided between two oval rooms. Of all of Monet's works which I have seen, these stood out to me. To cover so much space, Monet used larger brush strokes which seemed to magnify the impressionist feel. It was almost non-sensical to stand close to these paintings (though you could) for you would see nothing but large smears of color.
The Orangerie is housed in what was once the Orangerie (imagine that!) for the Louvre Palace. It has been remodeled several times since then, most recently re-opening after such construction May 2006. Essentially, only the shell of the old structure remains. A completely new concrete and glass structure has been built inside the old shell. A glass roof allows natural light to pour into the space and affords a warmth to the museum even on rainy days (like the one when I visited the museum)
Even the lower level is flooded with natural light. It is carefully controled with special shades so that no direct light damages the paintings and to make it more comfortable for those in the space. 

posted by janelle @ 10:27 PM