I was under the impression that the oldest public museum in France was the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’archéologie (Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology) in Besançon; according to their website. This museum started out as the private collection of Jean-Baptiste Boisot who bequeathed his personal collection to the Benedictine monks in the city of Besançon on condition that the collection was open to the public at least two days a week – in 1694, which was nearly a century before the Louvre became a public museum in August 1793.

I think your blog looks very interesting to, and will be exploring that some more myself.

What you might be thinking of is that after the hundred plus paintings were transferred to the Louvre, the Musée de Luxembourg was designated a “museum for living artists” in 1818, or in other words, a museum of contemporary art.

I would have never known that in a million years, had I not been in Paris today, researching my grandfather, Paul, who painted under Bonnat at the Luxembourg between 1890 and 1900.

Paul de Launay was the third cousin of Gustave Caillebotte. I am the fifth cousin of Jacques Chardeau, grandson of Martial Caillebotte, brother of Gustave.

In addition to that, the Paul de Valpinçon who was friend of Edgar Degas was also a close cousin. The house where Edgar came to paint, was bought in 1822 by Paul’s father, Edouard, and it remained in the family until 1974. Edouard was the friend of Ingres who have him his 1808 Bather painting. It now hangs in the Louvre and is known as the “Valpinçon Bather”.

I’m not really an art buff, except how it relates to my family. I like your blog. It’s very informative, and obvious that you put a lot of work in to it. Keep it up!! It’s one of the better ones. – Ange