Close to the Champs Elysées in Paris, the Jacquemart-André museum is relatively unknown to the public. None of my Parisian friends had heard of it! The private museum is famous for its art collection. However, the reason why I visited it, was for its beautiful winter garden.
The Jacquemart-André museum
The Jacquemart-André museum is a magnificent mansion of the Second Empire. It was the private home of Édouard André (1833–1894) who had served in the personal guard of Napoleon III. With his wife Nélie Jacquemart (1841–1912), he collected art and furnitures from around the world.
The rooms
The museum’s main collection is from French and Italian artists. The first floor is even devoted to Italian art from the Renaissance. Some rooms are decorated with Flemish (library) and English (the smoking room) works.
The winter garden
Originating from Great Britain, winter gardens were very popular in the early twentieth century in mansions. It is a room covered with a glass roof allowing you to enjoy all year round potted plants, most of the time exotic.
“The wonder of this marvellous palace was undoubtedly the winter garden”.
Illustration, 1876
Thee staircase
I found the stairs pretty impressive: despite being made of marble, stone and iron, it stays slender. We have the impression that the marble has been twisted …
The Italian museum
Nélie Jacquemart had a great interest in Italian painting. This is why the rooms on the first floor house an impressive collection of sculptures and paintings dating from the Florentine and Venetian Renaissance.
When to visit?
The best time to visit the museum is between two exhibitions, in February: you will generally have the place for yourself.
Practical information
Opening times
From 10am to 6pm every day of the year.
Late night opening on Mondays until 8.30pm during exhibitions.
Address
The Jacquemart-André museum is located in the 8th district of Paris:
158 boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris
For information on current exhibitions, see the museum’s website
Consider visiting the Albert Kahn Garden or the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil after your visit. These two places are located about 35 minutes by metro.
