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Metro: Line 9 St. Augustin, Miromesnil or St. Philippe du Roule, Line 13 Miromesnil
RER: Line A Charles de Gaule-Etoile
Overall impression: We thought this small museum, situated in a luxurious late 19th century home in the tony eighth arrondissement, was a treasure in a city of treasures. Visited by 600,000 people a year, the Jacquemart André Museum was home to the art of 150 masters including Rembrandt, Tiepolo, Della Robbia, Botticelli, Uccello, Carpaccio, Mantegna, Bellini, Boucher, Chardin and Fragonard.
Walking through the museum, we enjoyed the paintings, sculptures and furniture; and caught a glimpse of the life of its original owners Nélie Jacquemart and Eduard André, who dedicated their lives to the pursuit and collection of extraordinary works of art.
Owned/managed: Owned by Institut de France and managed by Culture Espace Groupe
Established: Opened in 1913; renovated and reopened in 1996
Size: Approximately 1,000 square meters (10,000 square feet)
Type of museum: Italian Renaissance art, Flemish paintings, French 18th century paintings and decorative arts including 19th century furniture
Audio guides available: Yes, included in the price of admission
Languages: French, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish
Average duration of visit: 1.5 to 2 hours
Exhibit: In relation to the museum building, the André’s residence stands out even today for its style and elegance. In its day, the owners were complimented for the harmonious combination of 18th century grace and 19th century modernity. An example of the modernity was a hydraulic system that allowed partitions to be moved in order to increase the size of reception rooms.
When we visited the Jacquemart André Museum, it featured paintings by the great masters, especially 18th century French, Flemish, Italian Renaissance and English works. It also housed exceptional Decorative Arts furniture; carpets and tapestries from leading workshops; Italian sculpture; busts and antiquities. The reception areas were splendorous. A hydraulic system made it possible to join the Great Drawing Room, Dining Room, Great Hall and Painting Room into one single room large enough to host an evening for 1,000 guests.
The museum was divided into fifteen rooms, including a number of state rooms: Painting Room or entrance; Great Drawing Room, salient for its paneling; Music Room, featuring red damask and ebony furniture where organ and chamber music concerts were held; Winter Garden, designed by Henri Parent and one of the highlights of the house; and Smoking Room, a small room featuring English paintings. There were also smaller rooms: Tapestry Room, study, Boudoir, and library.
The private apartments allowed visitors to see the more intimate areas of the André’s home. The Italian Museum on the second floor was modeled after the Bardini galleries in Florence. It was made up of three successive rooms: Two dedicated to paintings and one to sculpture.
Restaurant/tea room: A popular tea-room occupied the old Dining Room, which featured Brussels tapestries and a Tiepolo ceiling. Light lunches and afternoon tea were served there.
Souvenir shop: A well stocked shop offered art oriented souvenirs including posters, books, jewelry, ties, scarves, art kits, and children’s gifts.
Most recent visit: January 2004
Other: We particularly appreciated the one and a half hour long audio guides in English with close to 60 commentaries. The Jacquemart-André, a sister museum to the Royal Abbey of Chaalis, was available for private functions.
The museum’s website was in French and English.
Would you visit this museum again: Yes
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