Musée de la Vie romantique

In 1830, the Dutch painter, Ary Scheffer, a renowned portrait artist and figure of the Romantic period, settled at the foot of Montmartre in this two-story residence, today a museum.

The life of the artist

Scheffer built twin glasshouses as a studio and salon opposite the main house, and would receive Paris’ cultural elite there. One of his neighbours, a certain Delacroix, used to invite himself over. His dear friend, George Sand, came by with Chopin. They crossed paths with Liszt, Rossini, and Dickens… The residence, a relic of artist homes of the Romantic period, remained in Ary Scheffer’s family until its transformation into a museum in 1983. The first floor is devoted to the painter’s artwork, to his descendant, the writer, Ernest Renan, and to a gallery of portraits of women.

George Sand, the icon of Romanticism

But the real star is George Sand, the icon of French Romanticism. The ground floor of the house is dedicated to her. In the “jewellery room” you’ll find 170 objects, including Marshal Saxe’s snuff box and a ruby the author loved, and in the “little blue parlour,” the watercolour paintings she made at the end of her life are on display. The grand finale is the portrait of the writer, by August Charpentier.

Make sure to make a stop at the tearoom, weather permitting. Sit beneath blooming wisteria, and enjoy a pastry on the garden terrace in the shade of the trees.

Your visit of the museums in Paris Region is far from over!