Musee Marmottan Monet in Paris

By Courtney Traub, About.com Guide

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872.

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Musee Marmottan Monet Overview:

Claude Monet is probably the world's most celebrated impressionist painter, but the presence of his prints on mugs, coasters and calendars has probably served to oversimplify and dilute his extraordinary body of work in the minds of the public. One way to rectify over-cliche perceptions of Monet is to pay a visit to the Musee Marmottan Monet, which houses a remarkable collection of 130 paintings, drawings, and other works from the celebrated maestro of color and form-- the world's largest. The collection was bequeathed by a friend of the family and by Claude's son, Michel Monet, in 1966, and therefore represents a highly personal selection of works. Located on the edge of West Paris and the Bois de Boulogne, the Musee Marmottan Monet boasts works such as the celebrated "Impression, Sunrise", as well as lesser-known works depicting the Normandy coast. The museum also houses a large collection of paintings from Impressionist Berthe Morisot, and hosts regular temporary exhibits highlighting artists and thinkers related to the life and time of Monet.

Musee Marmottan Monet Location and Contact Information:

The museum is located in the posh 16th arrondissement (district) of Paris, nestled near a corner if the sprawling and verdant Bois de Boulogne.

Address:
2 rue Louis-Boilly
75016 Paris
Metro: La Muette (Line 9) or RER C (Boulainvilliers)
Tel : +33 (0)1 44 96 50 33

Visit the official website

Musee Marmottan Monet Opening Hours and Tickets:

Open: Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Open Thursday until 8pm. Closed Mondays and certain French bank holidays (check ahead).

Tickets: Check current admission prices here. Admission is free for children under the age of 7.

Sights and Attractions Nearby the Musee Marmottan Monet:

Highlights of the Permanent Collection:

The permanent collection at the Musee Marmottan-Monet represents the world's largest single collection of works from Monet, spanning from the famed 1872 tableau "Impression, Sunrise"(pictured above) to the famed water lilies series and lesser-known drawings and pastels.

The some 130 works are viewed in a specially dedicated room in the museum tracing the Monet's artistic development and influences. We move from Monet's early years, when he had yet to find his personal form of expression and produced rather conventional portraits, caricatures and city scenes, and slowly observe as his works take on his now legendary, signature style, culminating in the paintings inspired by the artist's garden at Giverny, outside Paris.

Lesser-known works give visitors a sense of the artist's true breadth and capacity to work with color and light in surprising and breathtaking ways. From industrial scenes given a troubling beauty (railway stations in Paris, the Charing Cross Bridge in London), to subtly melancholy paintings of Normand seaside scenes (the Trouville Beach, various scenes of the sea in movement), Monet's ability to capture the inherent beauty in small moments and details comes forth strongly in the collection.

Other Works in the Collection

The Museum also features a room with some 90 paintings from lesser-known Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot, providing an opportunity to get to know the work of a no-doubt under-appreciated artist from Monet's wider circle of influence.

Noteworthy works from fellow impressionists Gauguin, Corot, Boudin, Renoir, Guillaumin, and Carrière are among the works highlighted in the "Monet's Friends" section of the permanent collection.

Temporary Exhibits

Temporary exhibits at the museum focus on particular aspects of Monet's techniques, life or times, and provide intriguing insight into the artistic and personal influences behind the artist's beloved body of work. Recent exhibits have focused on neo-impressionist painters such as Seurat.