The Treasures of the Musee D'Orsay: A Flair for Living

I was expecting the full book (in English). It came in the mail today and to my disappointment was a tiny 4.5x4" book in Italian?! Unfortunate that there wasn't any indication it would come in a different language and size. I would very much like to exchange it or return if possible.

We just returned from Musee D'Orsay. The book was very expensive at the museum and would have cost more to ship. The price was great. The book is new, large colorful pictures highlighting the best of one of my favorite museums in Paris!

This fantastic book is about the eminent museum in Paris that is situated on the left bank of the famous Seine. It holds mainly French art from 1848 to 1914. It has one of the leading collections of Impressionist art in the world. This book is to be read and savored by people who love France, awesome works of art, impressionism or who love the splendid D'Orsay museum. Everytime I read it, I have happy memories. I had the most marvelous good fortune to spend a day at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris several months ago. It is such a magnificent place with wonderful sculptures and works of art. And naturally, me being me, I took hundreds of photos. And again, me being me, I needed to identify all the pictures when I got home which was difficult because, coupled with pictures from the Lourve and the British Museum, I had to identify well over 750 snapshots. That's when the Treasures of the Musee D'Orsay came in handy. Besides being a dandy coffee table book, it is chock full of photos from the museum's lovely pieces of art. We learn that the ground floor corresponds to the Second Empire in France with sculptures ranging from 1848 to 1870's. We also learn about and can view the masterpieces of the 1870's...Manet, Degas, Renoir, Monet and Cezanne all have displays. The museum's other popular areas hold work by: Vincent van Gogh, Gaugin, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec. We also see Rodin, Munch, Mollard, and even "The Artist's Mother" (Arrangement in Grey and Black) by Whistler as shown in this book along with scores of other paintings. Now, if I will only take time to work on my slide show now that I have names to go with these works of art!

For many of us a trip to one of the greatest museums in the world, Musée D'Orsay in Paris, can prove to be mindboggling. We are not only overwhelmed with the magnificent art that is on display but we never seem to have enough time or energy to view a fraction of these great artistic contributions to mankind.Treasures of the Musée D'Orsay, authored by former director of the Musée Françoise Cachin, is one solution to resolve our dilemma in planning a meaningful visit to this great institution.The author in her introduction introduces us to the most important artworks of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist eras.While we take this journey, we are also made aware of the fact that the museum was a train station and a hotel that were classified as historical monuments in Paris, and as a result were spared demolition.The museum houses the works of artists born between 1820 and 1870, with some exceptions. It is also explained to us that the Musée d'Orsay, insofar as its paintings are concerned, is to be placed between the Louvre, which houses artworks before 1820, and the Beaubourg Museum, which prides itself with works, executed after 1870.What is interesting about the book is that the author gives us a detailed tour of the museum and this is what will make an ultimate tour to this great institution invaluable.Cachin leads us by the hand from one section of the museum to another where we discover realism on the first floor; the Ingrism and Romanticism as well as social scenes by Daumier and highlights of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Cezanne in the upper gallery; awesome statute surrounded by a steel architecture in the middle floor; and Winslow Homer and other foreign artists in the esplanade. Another vital aspect about this beautiful book is that the co-author, Xavier Carrère, presents background information and concise essays pertaining to each and every one of the periods.It is also breathtaking to view the many photographs of just about every aspect of the museum's collection-oil paintings; sculpture, decorative arts, pastels, drawings and watercolors, architecture and photography that are all well represented in the book.What is also noteworthy is that the volume contains several works that may not even be on display when you personally visit the Musée as they are constantly being rotated in order to preserve them.Francoise Cachin and Xavier Carrère have reached their goal of preserving vivid memoirs of the quality and variety of works seen at the Musee d'Orsay.They have also provided the reader with an extensive index that will facilitate the viewing of a work of art within the book as well as in person at the Musée.If you want to save steps and enjoy the Musée, read this book before visiting.This review first appeared on reviewer's own sitewww.bookpleasures.com

as with most guides, the best give you an understanding of context as well as information on what you're seeing. after a recent visit to the museum, with my head full of memories of the arresting paintings i'd just seen, i picked up this book as a memento. while it doesn't fully take me back (after all, what guide can transport you to the roof, overlooking the seine river and the louvre?), it does help you recall the wonderful memories of days spent wandering the halls.the book doesn't catalouge the entire museum and some of my favorites weren't in there, but it does have an incredible selection of art. additionally, the commentary is well written and accessable. most importantly, they've thoughtfully put in several sidebars that help you understand the art scene in paris at the time - making the paintings much more relevant.definitely one of the better museum guides i've seen. reproduction quality is quite good as well. i've shared it with several friends who haven't been and now they're clamoring to go.

This book covers the amazing collection of the Musee D'Orsay very well. This book is an absolute must for an art lover, art historian, or visitor of the museum. I did not have as much time in the museum as I would have liked. One could spend days in the Musee D'Orsay, and this book brings me right back and allows me to reexamine the works I missed, forgotten, or wanted to spend more time with.