Musée d’Orsay is located on the left bank of the Seine River. This museum houses the works of French art from 1848 to 1914. The works of art are stored in the museum include paintings, sculptures, furniture, objets d’art, and photography. This building is actually a train station that was built in 1900. The station was closed 39 years later and converted into a historical monuments and cultural heritage in 1978. In this museum, you can see the works of art which were the work of many famous artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and Edouard Manet.
Musée d’Orsay can be said to be one of the museum that is unique in the world. From the outside the building seems ordinary – indeed magnificent, but nothing special – like other magnificent buildings are scattered in the city of Paris. Upon entering this museum you will be amazed – it looks like you are familiar with this type of building, and it’s not a museum. Yes, Musée d’Orsay is built inside the train station that are not used, the Gare d’Orsay.
On December 1, 1986 Musée d’Orsay was inaugurated by the president of France, Francois Mitterrand, and opened to the public eight days later. Once upon a time Gare d’Orsay opened in 1900, a painter Edouard Detaille said Gare d’Orsay is too beautiful to be the train station and should be used as a museum. Sure enough, 86 years later his words into reality. One painting detail, “The Dream”, then on display at the Musée d’Orsay.
Musée d’Orsay collections include the era of the 18th century up to the modern age where you can see the works of Degas, Rodin, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, van Gogh, and many other artists. Do not miss the mechanical clock (clockwork) magnificent extant since 1900 and is still functioning properly.
