View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
Trip to Musée Jacquemart-André
I love museums that display a lifetime’s worth of private collecting. The Musée Jacquemart-André is a private museum located on Boulevard Haussmann in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The museum was created from the private home of Édouard André (1833–1894) and Nélie Jacquemart (1841–1912) to display the art they collected during their lives.
The Musée Jacquemart-André, now owned by the Institut de France, presents collections of art that are worthy of great museums in a magnificent Second Empire mansion. Often compared to the Frick Collection in New York, it has maintained its mansion atmosphere, which makes it unique in Paris.
Edouard André, a 19th century collector, and his wife Nélie Jacquemart, a renowned portrait artist, travelled across Europe and the East to acquire rare works of art and furniture. The collections are some of the most remarkable in France. Works from Flemish and German schools, detached frescoes, refined furniture and tapestries are exhibited on the ground floor of the house. But Nélie Jacquemart devoted most of her attention to the Renaissance period in Florence and Venice. In fact, the first floor is devoted to Italian art during this period.
How it all began
In 1868, Édouard André, heir to a family of Protestant bankers, commissioned a mansion from the architect Henri Parent. The work took place until 1875 on land near Boulevard Haussmann. A great art lover, Édouard André used his fortune to acquire works of art to be exhibited in his new private mansion.
In 1872, Nélie Jacquemart, a young well-known society artist eight years his junior, painted his portrait. He married her in 1881. The couple never had children but devoted their lives to building up a collection of works of art with the ambition of exhibiting it to the public. Édouard André died in 1894, Nélie Jacquemart in 1912. According to their wishes, the collection and the hotel was bequeathed to the Institut de France in order to create a museum. President Raymond Poincaré inaugurated the Jacquemart-André Museum in 1913.
The museum is split into a number of different areas:
The State Apartments These were designed by the Andrés for their most formal receptions. They reflect their fascination for the French school of painting and 18th century decorative art.
The informal Apartments The Andrés would receive their business associates in a series of smaller, more informal salons. These were decorated in a refined style.
The winter garden The Winter Garden was created by architect Henri Parent, who was seeking to surpass Charles Garnier, the builder of the then new Opéra Garnier.
The Italian museum The Sculpture Gallery houses collections of 15th and 16th century Italian sculpture, with masterpieces by Francesco Laurana, Donatello, Luca Della Robbia and others. The Florentine Gallery is both a place of worship, containing works on religious themes — choir stalls, reredos and funerary monuments — and a picture gallery focusing on the Florentine school, with works by Botticelli, Francesco Botticini and Perugino, and Ucello’s celebrated St George and the Dragon. The Venetian Gallery attests to the Andrés’ love of 15th century Venetian artists. Dominated by a coffer ceiling attributed to Mocetto, paintings by Mantegna, Bellini and Carpaccio recreate the typical setting of a Venetian Palazzo.
The Private Apartments The Andrés’ private apartments occupy part of the mansion’s ground floor.
Aside from marvelling at the couple’s collection, there was an exhibition of the works of Swiss artist Johann Heinrich Füssli (1741 – 1825), an adopted Londoner who, with the encouragement of Sir Joshua Reynolds, President of the Royal Academy, started painting. His works are disturbing, he created chiaroscuro paintings with a decidedly pronounced taste for drama. Many of his works deal with the supernatural. He held the posts of Professor of Painting and Keeper at the Royal Academy. His style had a considerable influence on many younger British artists, including William Blake.
The museum has been managed since 1996 by Culturespaces, the leading private operator in the management and enhancement of French monuments and museums. The company is also in charge of, among other things, L’Atelier des Lumières and Pont du Gard.
View from the Back 
What an amazing museum Sheree, and must to see! They must have been quite an interesting and fashionable couple. She certainly had a joyous look!
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They must’ve led a very interesting life
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Indeed a beautiful museum, you took more and better pictures than me. I have gone there to the resto for business lunches in my Paris lifetime. Cheers
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Thanks
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You are welcome
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Quite an amazing museum, it would be wonderful to walk through it and see everything. I did enjoy your tour and great photos Sheree!😊😺📷
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Thanks Steve
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Welcome Sheree!
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Wow I would love this! The Frick is under construction, but they haven’t said when it’s reopening. The art is onsite in another building but I want to see it all in the beautiful mansion.
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This musée is now closed for renovation like the Frick.
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Thanks for sharing this idea. We really enjoyed our visit there. Thanks Anita
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My pleasure Anita
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My, we get to Paris often, adding this to a must do list, thanks.
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My pleasure Terry
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