Responsible for the conversion into a museum (1983-1986).
Gae Aulenti - Interior architect
Collaborator for interior design.
Guy Cogeval - Former Director (2008-2017)
Project promoter *Orsay Grand Open*.
Théodore Chassériau - Painter
Author of the frescoes of the Palace of Orsay (1840).
Origin and history
The Orsay Museum is located in the former Orsay station, built by Victor Laloux between 1898 and 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. This building, originally designed as a railway terminus for the Paris-Orléans Railway Company, was transformed into a museum by decision of President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Inaugurated in 1986 after work by architects Renaud Bardon, Pierre Colboc and Jean-Paul Philippon, it now houses collections covering the period 1848-1914, with an emphasis on impressionism and post-impressionism.
The museum occupies the site of the Palace of Orsay, built in 1810 and decorated by Théodore Chassériau, who once housed the Council of State and the Court of Auditors. Destroyed during the Paris Commune in 1871, the palace was replaced by the Orsay station, which itself converted into a museum after decades of decommissioning. The transformation project, launched in the 1970s, aimed to create a space dedicated to the 19th century arts, complementary to the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou.
The collections of the Musée d'Orsay are exceptional, with more than 1,100 impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, including major works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh and Renoir. The museum also has a rich collection of sculptures, decorative arts and photographs, reflecting the artistic diversity of this pivotal period. There are regular temporary exhibitions and various cultural programmes (concerts, conferences, shows).
The museum's architecture, marked by its monumental clock and central nave, preserves original elements of the station, such as the statues of the Six Continents and iron cast animals, originally installed during the Universal Exhibitions of 1878 and 1900. The museum has undergone several renovations, including that of 2011 which added 2,000 m2 of space dedicated to decorative arts and modernized Impressionist galleries.
The Musée d'Orsay is now a public administrative institution, also comprising the Musée de l'Orangerie since 2010. Its official name pays tribute to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, initiator of the project. With over 3 million annual visitors, it is one of the most visited museums in Europe, attracting an international audience for its unique collections and iconic architectural setting.
Among the notable events was the damage in 2007 of a painting by Monet, Le Pont d'Argenteuil, during the Nuit Blanche, as well as ambitious projects such as Orsay Grand Ouvert, planned for 2026, which aims to expand exhibition spaces and create educational workshops. The museum also maintains partnerships with French and international institutions, while developing educational programmes and travelling exhibitions.
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Collection
Le musée d'Orsay expose et conserve la plus grande collection de peintures impressionnistes (plus de 480 toiles) et post-impressionnistes (plus de 600 toiles cloisonnistes, néo-impressionnistes, symbolistes, nabis...) au monde, ainsi que de remarquables ensembles de peintures de l'école de Barbizon, réalistes, naturalistes, orientalistes et académiques, y compris des écoles étrangères.
Il présente aussi une importante collection de sculptures.
