Musée de l’Orangerie: the Walter-Guillaume Collection in Stunning New Setting

The Musée de l’Orangerie presents its extraordinary early 20th-century artworks from Claude Monet’s iconic Water Lilies to Paul Guillaume and Domenica Walter’s dazzling collection in newly renovated strikingly elegant space. The visitor is led on a fluid, educational, and stimulating circuit that harmoniously connects modernity and Ecole de Paris figuration.

Stepping down the stairs, we are face to face with Joan Mitchell’s astonishing polyptych – on loan from the Musée National d’Art Moderne – and large-scale works by Picasso, Rousseau, Derain, Modigliani, Matisse – the “modern primitives” Paul Guillaume collected under Guillaume Apollinaire’s guidance. Monographic galleries offer close-ups and intimate encounters with Renoir and Cezanne. African and Oceanic sculptures from Guillaume’s collection are on loan from the Musée du Quai Branly- Jacques Chirac.

Two new galleries – dedicated to changing close ups of the collection and contemporary interpretations of the Water Lilies – keep the experience of the prestigious collection dynamic and fresh.