Paris has well over 1,000 art galleries, just in that one city alone. Without a doubt, France, and Paris in particular are an art enthusiast’s mecca.
It’s no surprise that France is well known as one of the most art-rich countries in the world. Paris, the country’s capital city has well over 1,000 art galleries, just in that one city alone. Without a doubt, France, and Paris in particular are an art enthusiast’s mecca. From countless iconic museums such as the Louvre to amazing castles with sprawling gardens like Versailles to art galleries and exhibition spaces, there is plenty of art to enjoy.
Perhaps what many artists love about France too is the variety of art that is available to admire. From paintings to sculptures and just about anything in between, you don’t have to go far to enjoy one of the thousands of pieces throughout the country. But what are some of the most exquisite pieces that you absolutely must cross off your bucket list someday? Take a list at our checklist of 8 amazing pieces, below:
1. The Venus De Milo – Otherwise known as Aphrodite, the Venus de Milo was found on the island of Melos in 1820 in the south-western Cyclades. The Marquis de Rivière gifted it to Louis XVIII, who gifted it to the Louvre the very next year. The sculpture is entirely made of marble, though it is believed that when it was originally assembled, she would have been adorned with jewelry including a bracelet, earrings, and a headband. Marble has long been a popular material for artists due to its translucency and durability. And artists were correct in selecting this enduring material, which can be seen by how long so many marble sculptures have survived in our history.
2. Winged Victory – Made of Parian marble, the Winged Victory of Samothrace is also called the Nike of Samothrace. She is a Hellenistic sculpture of the Greek goddess of victory, created in about the 2nd century BC. Since 1884, it has been noticeably displayed at the Louvre and is celebrated as one of the most remarkable and exquisite sculptures anywhere in the world. It is one of just a few major Hellenistic statues surviving in the original form, rather than as a Roman copy.
3. The Thinker – This towering figure was cast out of bronze in 1904 by artist Auguste Rodin. Rodin is known as the father of modern sculpture and he originally conceived the idea of this particular statue in 1880 for the Gates of Hell, a doorway surround. Rodin based the piece on The Divine Comedy of Dante and many experts believe that The Thinker originally designed to depict Dante. Many marble and bronze editions of The Thinker in several different were built during Rodin’s lifetime and even after his death. The most famous version stands 6 feet tall and sits in the gardens of the Rodin Museum in Paris. The statue portrays a man lost in thought, with a powerful body that is ready for action.
4. Triumph of the Republic – This large bronze statue group was designed by Aime Jules Dalou, and took many years to complete prior to its inauguration in 1899. To this day, the status still stands within the center of the Place de la Nation square.
5. Long Term Parking – The first étape at the Château de Montcel, located not too far from Versailles, features a 60-foot-high sculpture that includes some 60 real cars that have been embedded in concrete. This very unique piece, while maybe not exquisite, is definitely worth a look as it does create jaw-dropping reactions. The work of Arman, a distinguished artist, the piece was installed in 1982 and entitled ‘Long-term Parking.’ The sculpture symbolizes the waste generated by mass production and is intended to create awareness for more environmentally-conscious behaviors.
6. Le Pouce – César Baldaccini's iconic sculpture of a 40-foot thumb towers over passersby in Paris' La Défense. The statue weighs more than 18 tons and was built in 1965. Visitors passing through La Défense, Paris’ largest business district, may not be expecting such odd, but unique displays of art, but that’s what visitors will get, and it is not uncommon to see tourists gawking at the piece, showing combined expressions of awe and confusion.
7. Les Voyageurs – To help commemorate Marseilles being named as the European Capital of Culture in 2013, artist Bruno Catalano created 10 life-size, sculptures made of bronze, that are now displayed along the waterfront. Titled “Les Voyageurs” (The Travelers), these awe-inspiring and surrealist statues depict people with huge portions of their bodies missing. The pieces seem to defy gravity, and the large omissions in the design of each statue leave viewers imagining his true meaning. Quite opposite of the belief that travel broadens and enriches one’s life, Catalano complained his various travels left him feeling that a part of him was gone and would never come back.
8. Statue of Liberty, Pont de Grenelle – When looking down from the Eiffel Tower, tourists will see a variety of amazing sites and places, most notably the Arc de Triomphe, the remains of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre, just to name a few. And when they look to the south, they may be surprised to see the Statue of Liberty and may blink for a moment to remind themselves that they are indeed in Paris and not in New York. Only one-quarter the size of the statue in New York, America gifted the smaller version to France in 1889 as a thank-you for the taller version that France gifted to the United States in 1886.
For centuries, Paris, and the rest of France has lured and attracted artists from all over the world. Artists flock to France to educate themselves and to seek inspiration from the abundance of resources and galleries. Paris has received a reputation as the "City of Art,” and this is really no surprise. Some of the world's most well-known museums and galleries are located in Paris, including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the city today continues to be home to a thriving and growing community of both modern and contemporary artists. Paris is recognized worldwide for its variety of landmarks and monuments of architecture.
