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Origin and history

The Jacquemart-André Museum is a museum of fine arts and decorative arts located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. He opened his doors to the public in 1913, after being bequeathed to the Institut de France by Nélie Jacquemart, widow of Edward André. The latter, heir of a great fortune of the Second Empire, had ordered in 1868 from architect Henri Parent the construction of a mansion intended to house his collections and to receive guests. The works, carried out from 1869 to 1875, gave rise to a sumptuous building, equipped with the latest technical innovations and decorated with great pleasure.

In 1881, Édouard André married Nélie Jacquemart, a painter, who shared her passion for art and actively contributed to the enrichment of their collection. Together they brought together major works, including Italian paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, as well as sculptures, tapestries and art objects. When Edward André died in 1894, Nélie Jacquemart continued their joint project and bequeathed the hotel and its collections to the Institut de France at his death in 1912, provided that it became a museum accessible to the public.

The museum was inaugurated in 1913 by President Raymond Poincaré. Since 1996, its management has been entrusted to the company Culturespaces, which organizes temporary exhibitions, welcomes visitors and enhances spaces. The mansion, classified as Monument Historique in 1978, has retained its original layout, offering an exceptional setting for the works exhibited. In 2023, major restoration work was carried out, including on the Tiepolo fresco and the stair marbles.

The museum's collections include masterpieces by Bellini, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Fragonard and many others, covering periods from the Middle Ages to the Italian Renaissance, through Flemish and Dutch schools. The museum also offers renowned temporary exhibitions, such as those dedicated to Caravage, Turner or Botticelli. The mansion itself, with its lounges, winter garden and monumental staircase, is a remarkable architectural testimony of the 19th century Parisian bourgeoisie.

The Jacquemart-André museum has also been used as a setting for several films, including La Traversée de Paris (1956) and Gigi (1958), demonstrating its cultural and aesthetic appeal. Today, it remains a must for art and history lovers, combining architectural heritage and exceptional collections in a preserved setting.

Collection

Les collections du musée se composent essentiellement de peintures italiennes et françaises, mais aussi hollandaises, flamandes et anglaises, de sculptures ainsi que de mobilier et d'objets d'art.

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