Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Renan-Scheffer hotel, located at 16 rue Chaptal in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, is now the museum of romantic life. Built in 1830, it was the home of painter Ary Scheffer (1795-1858), a major figure in romanticism, and a meeting place for artists, writers and musicians. The museum exhibits objects, paintings and souvenirs of George Sand, close to Ary Scheffer, as well as works related to Ernest Renan, nephew by alliance of the painter.

The property remained in the Scheffer-Renan family until 1982, before being bequeathed to the French State in 1956 by Corrie Siohan, last heiress. Transformed into a municipal museum in 1983 under the name "Renan-Scheffer", it became the Museum of Romantic Life in 1987 after a renovation led by Jacques Garcia. The place preserves the atmosphere of the 19th century bourgeois salons, with collections enriched by bequests and acquisitions, such as those of Pierre Bergé in 1995.

The museum showcases two reconstructed workshops after a painting of 1851, with pumpkin red walls and period objects. It also houses the family archives of Ernest Renan, drawings of his son Ary Renan, and a specialized library on George Sand. Since 2013, it has been managed by Paris Museums. After work from 2024 to 2026, it will reopen with a renewed museum trail, while preserving its historical character.

Listed as the Musée de France since 2002, the Renan-Scheffer Hotel illustrates the cultural influence of New Athens, a Parisian neighbourhood emblematic of arts and letters in the 19th century. Its garden and living rooms, filled with furniture, paintings and memorabilia, offer a unique testimony of romantic life, between family heritage and heritage vocation.

Among the flagship pieces are paintings related to George Sand, sculptures by Louise Abbéma, and medallions of personalities such as Chopin or Liszt. The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions and cultural events, perpetuating its role as a living place dedicated to art and history.

Future

It houses the Museum of Romantic Life.

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