You will marvel at the magnificent light effects when you first enter the main level of the beautiful Musee d’Orsay in Paris, the light is made possible by the arched glass barrel ceiling and ceiling that lets in a ton of sun. You’ve stowed your bulky belongings in the museum storage room (after all, you don’t want to knock over an old masterpiece with your clunky backpack), and now you’re ready to take a look around the place.
The magnificent Musee d’Orsay began life as a turn of the century (20th century) train station, but became obsolete when modern train carriages became too long to fit on the station platforms. The structure was scheduled to be demolished but, thank goodness for us, it didn’t, because it’s a wonderful setting for housing works of art (painting, sculpture, furniture, photography, and more) ranging from 1848 to 1914. It’s a great stage, in fact, several films have been shot there, including that of Franz Kafka. The proof. The Musee d’Orsay stands majestically on the artsy Left Bank across the Seine from the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries (a place you might want to visit while you’re in the neighborhood).
There are masterpieces by Impressionist artists such as Monet, Degas, Renoir and Cezanne, just to name four, and the galleries are bursting with colour. Some drawings are displayed in low light, to preserve them, and that’s a bit disappointing, but never, ever let that stop you from visiting.
Because the Louvre can be so overwhelming due to its sheer size, if you had enough time to visit either the Louvre or the Orsay, I think you might choose the Orsay.