L'Orangerie - Matisse, Renoir

Musée de l'Orangerie, in a corner of the Tuileries Garden, is featuring an exhibition of Matisse's works from the 1930s, the period during which he went to Tahiti.  In addition, the show contains art from his comtemporaries:  Georges Braque, Juan Miro Fernand Léger, Vassily Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Le Corbusier.  And, the room in the Orangerie dedicated to Monet's Water Lillies always delights us.

One thing we've noticed in our walks through Paris is that many restaurants are decorated with huge bouquets of flowers.  We don't know why, but we do enjoy the displays

Restaurant decoration

Approaching Place de la Concorde, we pass the Grand Palais exhibition hall, then get another view of it from the Tuileries Garden as we wait in line to enter the Musée de l'Orangerie.

Grand Palais, across the street and from afar

Entering the museum, we first go to the rooms containing the Water Lilies.  These works were offered to the French State by Claude Monet on the day that followed the Armistice of November 11, 1918 as a symbol for peace.  The Water Lilies were installed in the Orangerie in 1927, a few months after his death.

Water Lilies

From the Water Lilies rooms, we enter the special exhibition of Matisse.  The 1930s were a turning point for Matisse; he had been achieving success with paintings of interiors and reclining nudes, but needed to explore new styles and innovations, which turned out to be quite successful.

Matisse

Leaving the exhibition, we wander through some of the museum's permanent collection, including works by Soutine, Picasso, Rousseau, Utrillo, Cezanne, Renoir, and Modigliani (and a few more Matisse).

In the permanent collection

We love this museum and return whenever we can!

Saint Suplice, Walk along the Seine

Walking  back from the Luxembourg Gardens toward the Seine, we pass Saint Suplice, the third largest church in Paris, dating from 1646.  The original Romanesque church on this site was built in the 13th century and the current building was built between 1646 and 1745.  We're intrugued and enter the church.

Saint Suplice and square in front

Saint Suplice

From Saint Suplice, we walk over to the Seine and down a few blocks to Musée d'Orsay to find that it is closed today.  Luckily, we're in Paris a few days and can return later.  We admire nearby store window displays and the sculptures outside the museum before continiung down the Seine.

Store windows

Sculptures outside the Musée d'Orsay

Continuing along the banks of the Seine, we watch the boats and barges moving up and down the river, some with freight, some with tourists.

River traffic

Some craft are more permanently moored, converted to restaurants, clubs, and residences.

Restaurant/club on a boat

Living on a boat

The Grand Palais appears in the distance as we cross the Seine and enter the Tuileries, the gardens between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.

Grand Palais in the distance.

Musée d'Orsay now across the river, Louvre down the street

Entering the Tuileries Garden

Walking through the Tuileries

We head back to our room to check the list of current exhibitions in Paris and decide where to go next.