Overview of Parisian Art History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Paris’s art history is an overwhelmingly gorgeous tapestry of many styles and movements. It all started in the Middle Ages with the Gothic architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Renaissance came with classical influences with artists like Jean and Fran\u00e7ois Clouet. The Baroque period added drama and flair, highlighted by Simon Vouet and Nicolas Poussin’s works. The 19th century was a robust time of creativity with Romanticism led by Eug\u00e8ne Delacroix, Realism by Gustave Courbet, and the iconic Impressionists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and \u00c9douard Manet. In the 20th century, Paris became a hotspot for avant-garde movements like Cubism and Surrealism, drawing legends like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dal\u00ed, and Wassily Kandinsky. There is no shortage of inspiration in the city of Paris. Let’s break down some of the must-see art attractions that are home to staples of Parisian art history and beyond. There is something or everyone and every style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Art Galleries in Paris<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To truly appreciate Parisian art history, you must visit the city’s top art galleries.  While there are simply too many to name, the palaces and gardens house some of the most iconic and influential works of art. Here are just a handful of must-see galleries to take in both modern and classic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Louvre<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located on the Right Bank of the Seine lies the most iconic museum in the whole city. The moment you arrive at the Louvre, you will be mesmerized by its beauty. Its iconic glass pyramid, titled appropriately, the Louvre Pyramid was designed by architect I.M. Pei. This unique and relatively \u201cmodern\u201d structure lies in the center of the palace courtyard and adds to the list of iconic works of art the museum possesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once inside, the Winged Victory of Samopthrace greets you as you ascend the escalators. Wandering through its spectacular halls, you’ll encounter works from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical periods, not to mention a vast collection of ancient artifacts.  Home to da Vinci\u2019s Mona Lisa (known to the French as the Joconde), the Louvre hails as the world’s largest and most visited art museum. For Parisian art history lovers, the Louvre can’t be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fun Fact:<\/strong> It is literally<\/strong> impossible to see every piece of art in the Louvre in just one visit. If you were to spend a mere 30 seconds in front of each piece of art, it would take 100 days to see them all! <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All aboard! The Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay<\/a> is a converted railway station and can be found on the Left Bank of the Seine. One of the most photographed features of the museum is its grand clock. Visitors can view the clock from inside the museum, creating a timeless visual and special connection to the building’s past as a train station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n