Author Description

More than a mere guide, just giving an inventory of the collections in the Orsay Museum, this book offers a promenade through its galleries, examining the historical and social context which are intrinsically linked to all works of art. This book examines the influences of the artistic production of the 19th century, and gives a better understanding of their interrelation. We see how an old way of life died off and a new one, the one we descend directly from, was born. The Orsay Museum, more than any other, allows this type of discovery, which is less a presentation and description of works than an examination of their place in the social context of the time. It helps uncover the links between painting, architecture, the decorative arts. literature and music, as well the emerging arts, such as photography. More than just a guide to the Orsay Museum, this original book provides an overview of the history of l9th century art in all its forms.