7.11.13

The Galliera Museum


Yes, autumn is here… time to visit museums.
 
The Galliera Museum was recently reopened after important restoration.


This remarkable and extravagant building, which stood ready in 1894, is the result of a donation by the Duchesse de Galliera, rich heiress of the Duke. It belongs to the City of Paris (by mistake ; the duchesse wanted it as a gift to France). 

It was intended to house the family’s art collection, but before the museum was finished, the Duchesse got a good reason to be upset – being of direct descent from the Royal House of Orléans, she was supposed to be expelled from the republican France. Consequently, the art collection was given to Genoa, Italy. 



So, the museum was for a long time used for various exhibitions, temporary shows, auctions… Since 1977 it has been operated as a Museum for fashion.  Normally, you can find dresses worn by Marie-Antoinette, Audrey Hepburn… and a lot of dresses made by leading designers like Balenciaga, Balmain, Dior, Fath, JP Gaultier, Givenchy, Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent… Right now there is specific Alaïa  exhibition. 

However, photos from the inside are not allowed.  


9 comments:

Jeanie said...

Pity there were no photos allowed -- I would have liked to see anything in there! Paris is so full of these wonderful museums. And yes, tis the season!

martinealison said...

Bonjour cher Peter,
Je n'ai jamais eu la chance de visiter ce musée... Une lacune qu'il me faudra combler !
L'architecture est magnifique.
Dommage que dans ces murs on ne puisse pas admirer la collection d'art familiale...
L'automne est bien installé, la douceur persiste toutefois et tant mieux !
Gros bisous à toi et merci pour ce joli billet.

Virginia said...

Perfect timing. I had this on my list to ask you about. I can't wait to see inside finally. I think in 2009 you and I pushed our cameras through the fence to snap a few from outside! V

Cara Black said...

Great post, Peter. I made it there last week and was so glad I did. Too bad I didn't see you. PS Murder in Pigalle comes out next March and I thank you for all your help in the acknowledgements xo Cara

Anonymous said...

It is a beautiful museum and I was so glad that I went when I was last in Paris in 2002. I was sorry that they didn't allow photos even "sans flash" but I purchased some literature on the exhibition. They were some of the most remarkable fashions that I had ever seen with extraordinary workmanship.
Cheers,
Stephan

Starman said...

It was closed when we were there.

Alain said...

Un palais qui a eu une histoire très mouvementée.

JoeinVegas said...

sure is a good thing that you didn't take any photos inside then.

Thérèse said...

Quelle histoire, je n'en connaissais pas les details.