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The home of the original Claude Monet painting that prompted the creation of the term Impressionism – Impression, Sunrise, 1872: Musée Marmottan Monet.
The review that is given credit for creating the term is art critic Louis Leroy who wrote in the publication Le Charivari on April 25th in 1874 the article “Exhibition des Impressionnistes”, stating “Impression—I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it … and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! Wallpaper in an embryonic state is more finished than that seascape.”
And so one of the well-known art movements officially began being recognized.
Monet in this painting (above) captures an early morning on the port of Le Havre in the north of France. The same port that Julia and Paul Child arrived in 1948 when her now famous sojourn began as she tasted the food in France for the first time. But today we’re talking about Monet, and as I have shared before, following reading the biography by Jackie Wullschläger —Monet: The Restless Vision (2023 in the UK, and 2024 in the US), a book I highly recommend as it is the first biography to include letters from Monet ever shared as well as translated into English, I continue to be inspired and in awe by his genuine passion for painting.
The largest permanent collection of Claude Monet’s paintings resides in Paris exhibited for the public to enjoy year-round, and it is at Musée Marmottan Monet. Located away from the heart of Paris and nestled in the quiet arrondissement that is the 16e, to visit this museum is a breath of fresh air compared to the hustle and large expanse of many of the other museums, or the crush of people at the Musée L’Orangerie (which is worth tolerating to view with your own eyes Monet’s Waterlilies – read and view that post here).
I had intended to visit this museum during my trip in 2022, but time escaped me; so during my trip this past March, it was first on my list to visit, and what a memorable experience. Below I have both photos and a detailed video collage of my visit. You will first see all of the photos of the paintings and their details, so that when you watch the video, you can just take in the painting as they displayed in Monet’s permanent exhibit, referring back to the photos if need be.
The museum acquired all of these paintings of Monet’s, which were in the family collection at the time, following the detail of his second son Michel. Below shares all of the details about the bequest.
However, I would be remiss not to share that if you too are an Impressionist fan, you will be delighted to know that many of Berthe Morisot’s paintings are exhibited here at Marmottan permanently as well. Let’s take a look at those first. You may remember back in 2019, the first ever spotlight exhibit of Morisot’s work took place at the Musée d’Orsay.
You can view and read that TSLL tour here.
Let’s first take a look at the room dedicated entirely to Berthe Morisot.
The museum was originally a home, which is why this museum is located in a residential part of the 16th arrondissement. Now, as a museum, the entire basement is where Monet’s works are exhibited, Morisot’s has a large, long room on the 2nd floor (what the French would call the first floor), and on the first floor you will find various works of art, furniture, sculpture and the souvenir shop.
Berthe Morisot
Claude Monet
Now to the video, but first, this portion of the museum while it contains the most original Monet paintings, more than any other location, its intimacy is what makes it special. You will begin the video by walking down the stairs from the main floor, curling your way into the exhibit that extends for three rooms all open and confluencing into one narrow room with bubble side portions. On this particular day, it was in the middle of the week, a school day, and so my company, as you will see and hear, was a young primary class of students. Each were placed into groups of about five or six students paired with a parent or a teacher, and combined with the art we were all gazing at, it magically brought the past to the present. Beauty savored by generations.
The works held in this exhibit were never shown during the artist’s lifetime. “These works were exhibited for the first time when they entered the Museum.”
I hope you enjoy this tour. (I have chosen to present the video with the actual ambiance from the visit to perhaps make you feel as though you are there, wandering through the museum on your own while visiting Paris, as a way to begin the day. ☺️🇫🇷❤️)
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View all of the posts shared during TSLL’s 10th Annual French Week Here
Beauty in word and image. What a visually luxurious way to commence this very special week…I love it all, especially the opening quote coining Impressionism, thank you so much…art is its own mode of travel, perfect for this week!
Thank you Liz 🙂
Shannon, Monet is my favorite impressionist artist. Thank you so much for sharing the tour of the museum.
It is my pleasure! I have been wanting to visit this museum for many years and the wait was worth it. It is special and a gem of a museum that most tourists don’t trek out to the 16th to visit which makes it all the more special. 🙂 THank you for taking the tour!
This is such a wonderful museum! I love the walk through the park to arrive to it as well!
That is so true! Thank you for sharing this detail that adds to the museum’s charm all the more! Tickled to hear you too have enjoyed visiting this special museum while living in Paris Mariana. 🙂 Thank you again for sharing!
Oh Shannon what a way to kick off French week! I finished reading The Lost Masterpiece by B.A. Shapiro (a recommendation from a This & That I believe)just this week making it timely and so special to see the addition of Berthe Morisot. On top of the joy this post brought to my early Sunday morning, it also brought my longing to take a trip to France. It has been over two years since I have been and it is time! I am just thrilled for another French week and will savior every post and video. Thank you!