Musee d’Orsay | Paris Museum

The Palais d’Orsay was an administrative building in Paris, located on the left bank of the Seine River. It was constructed in the early 19th century to house various government services, including the Council of State and the Cour des Comptes (Court of Audit). The Palais d’Orsay was an impressive example of Second Empire architecture, but it met a tragic fate during the tumultuous period of the Paris Commune in 1871 when it was set on fire and largely destroyed. The ruins of the Palais d’Orsay were eventually cleared to make way for the construction of the Gare d’Orsay railway station, which later became the famous Musée d’Orsay art museum.

Gare D’Orsay (Orsay Railway Station) included, at the time, an hotel with 370 rooms, a restaurant, and a large banquet hall.
Everything is made of steel. It is said that the structure contains more metal than the Eiffel Tower.
At the time, the local Parisian people protested against this modern station amidst the most beautiful monuments of Paris. That’s why the iron was hidden behind a stone façade.

As train travel evolved and longer trains became standard, the station’s platforms became too short for modern use. Consequently, it fell out of heavy use by the mid-20th century.

In the 1970s, there were plans to demolish the station, but it was saved by the French government’s decision to convert it into a museum. The main reasons for its conversion were to preserve its historical Beaux-Arts architecture and to fill a gap in the French national museum landscape, which lacked a dedicated space for the arts of the 19th century. The Musée d’Orsay was inaugurated in 1986 and now houses an extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, among other 19th-century works, making it one of Paris’s most popular museums.

The Musée d’Orsay is adorned with a variety of animal sculptures that contribute to the building’s ornamental grandeur and reflect the artistic trends of the time when the train station was constructed. These sculptures, perched on the façade and roof, were designed by various artists and serve as an homage to the animalier tradition in French art.

The animal sculptures range from majestic lions to spirited horses, each meticulously crafted to capture the essence and dynamism of the creatures they represent. These sculptures not only serve as decorative elements but also as symbols of the power and movement that were emblematic of the industrial age in which the Gare d’Orsay was built.

Today, these animal sculptures continue to captivate visitors, adding to the museum’s unique charm and standing as silent guardians of the rich history and cultural heritage contained within the Musée d’Orsay’s walls.

Clock at Musee d’Orsay

At the entrance, the clock and the metal structure remind us that it used to be a train station.

Statuary in Musee d’Orsay Main Hall

Scale model of the Statue of Liberty located in Musee dorsay

“Ugolino and His Children” (1862) is a poignant and powerful sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, displayed at the Musée d’Orsay. The work is based on a tragic episode from Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno,” where Count Ugolino della Gherardesca is condemned to starve to death with his children. Carpeaux’s sculpture captures the harrowing moment of despair and anguish, as Ugolino is torn between starvation and the horrific contemplation of consuming his offspring. The intense emotion and realism of the figures reflect the sculptor’s skill in conveying human suffering and the dark themes of the narrative. This masterpiece is a testament to Carpeaux’s mastery of expressive art and remains a compelling piece within the museum’s collection.

The Musée d’Orsay also hosts an array of temporary exhibitions that complement its permanent collection such as the Van Gogh Exhibition happening right now as I wrote the article. These limited-time events showcase thematic works, spotlight lesser-known artists, and provide deeper dives into specific art periods or movements. Alongside these exhibitions, the museum offers a rich cultural program, including lectures, films, and concerts, enriching the visitor experience with a multi-disciplinary approach to the arts.