By My B., Rizhlaine F. Photos by My B. Posted Mar 14, 2023 6:48 PM
The Bourdelle Museum, dedicated to the famous sculptor, is preparing to reopen its doors on March 15, 2023. New course redesigned and studied for children, new scenographic devices and new café-restaurant are on the program of discoveries that await you.
The Bourdelle Museumthe dedicated museum-workshop at the work of the famous French sculptor located in the heart of the 14th arrondissement of Paris, reopens its doors this 15 mars 2023. Initiated by the City of Paris and Paris Musées, this renovation carried out with respect for the architectural heritage will have lasted two years, including seven months in total closure of the museum. It will have made it possible to restore the sculptor’s workshop but also to completely rethink the route of the collectionssupported by innovative mediation, and to open a new café-restaurant called Rhodiafirst name of Bourdelle’s daughter.
The Bourdelle Museum in video:
After seven months of total closure of the museum, we can now discover the completely redesigned and refurbished spaces, supported by a innovative mediation. In addition to the restoration of thecarving workshopthe renovation has enabled the complete rethinking of the route through the collections, with a new scenography and a redesigned mediation offer to allow a better understanding of Bourdelle’s work.
The route through the collections, now denser, presents Bourdelle’s work from a chrono-thematic angle, with a contextualization allowing a better understanding of the works and their context of creation. Visitors will also be able to discover works by Bourdelle’s contemporaries and students, from the collections of the Bourdelle museum or from new deposits, generously granted by institutions and private collections.
Another novelty which is not to displease us, a Cafe Restaurant appointed Rhodia was created in place of the former apartment of Rhodia Dufet-Bourdelle, the sculptor’s daughter. This space, which was transformed in 1947 by Michel Dufet, master of Art Deco, offers us large windows overlooking the famous hidden interior garden. A garden that conceals many treasures. We can’t wait to land there as soon as 28 mars 2023to take advantage of its luminosity and its point of view. The space was redesigned by the SAME architect firm, which knew how to respect the spirit of the decor of Dufet while associating contemporary pieces. It has a beautiful and large L-shaped terrace overlooking the front garden, part of which is sheltered.
The renovation also allowed the restoration of thecarving workshopsanctuary by Bourdelle’s wife on his death, until its donation to the City of Paris in 1947. We can thus discover the place of work and creation of the sculptor, in a layout faithful to the spirit of that of Bourdelle.
After the conservation work, the furniture and the museum’s emblematic works were restored and put back in place as they were before the work. This includes in particular the dying centaurthe pallas torsus in marble and bust of Michel Cognacq. Some bronze sculptures added after the artist’s death have been replaced by sculptures visible in period photographs, such as Beethoven with Two Hands, Jeanne Prinet, Women and Roses and The Nurse.
The workshop finds the Christ hooked up and busts of bishops and of the medieval Virgin reinstalled in their original location, on the cleaned beam that we are rediscovering. Small sculptures take place in the window on the mezzanine and the textiles have been redone in the original spirit. The gray cupboard, left open when the workshops opened in 1938, was left open so that visitors could discover the small clay and plaster works it contained.
Finally, the renovation also enabled the creation of a new technical room, proposing on 60 square meters an offer of devices around the process of manufacture of the works and the trades of the workshop. Visitors will thus be able to discover the different stages in the creation of a work, thanks to a vast wall of manipulations combining original works to be touched, materials, playful, sound and digital devices.
The renovation of the Bourdelle Museum is therefore a real success, offering visitors a new space for discovering and understanding Bourdelle’s work, as well as a pleasant and friendly place to eat. The work to safeguard and consolidate the oldest building was carried out with respect for the architectural heritage, witnesses of the time of Antoine Bourdelle.
For the record, it was in 1885 thatAntoine Bourdellethe famous French sculptor, takes up residence at 16 impasse du Maine. He leaves behind a workshop-museum nestled in the XV th district, a stone’s throw from the neighborhood Montparnasse.
In accordance with the artist’s wishes, we find his collections permanently, in workshops where he worked and lived. It makes Bourdelle museum a place full ofhistory and D’authenticity which allows us to dive into the intimacy of the sculptor visionary.
The Great Hall of the Museum built in 1961 by the architect Henry Gautruche on the occasion of 100th anniversary of the birth of Bourdelle, delighted the fans ofarchitecture and of sculpture with the monumental part of Bourdelle’s plaster work. There are also works inspired by the Ancient Greeceof its gods and its heroes.
Thinkers will be able to rejoice in being able to walk along the street gardenwhere the four figures of the Monument are exhibited to General Alvear (1913-1923) – Freedom, Strength, Victory, Eloquence. Coast indoor gardenin the familiar maze of workshops: we love to discover Bourdelle’s bronzes!
Note that for the reopening, we can discover a new exhibition of Philippe Cogné, devoted to the painting after. If this temporary exhibition pays off, it is not the same for the museum whose permanent spaces are freely accessible and free all year. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..
Ready to rediscover the Bourdelle Museum?
To discover at the Bourdelle Museum:
The Philippe Cognée Exhibition, the after painting at the Bourdelle Museum is unveiled
The Bourdelle Museum unveils an exhibition to discover for its reopening, from March 15 to July 16, 2023, on Philippe Cognée. Named ‘The painting after’, this exhibition looks back on the work of this figurative painter. [Lire la suite]