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Musée Nissim de Camondo

Musée Nissim de Camondo

Musée Nissim de Camondo

The Camondo family were immigrants from the Ottoman Empire in the middle of the 19th century. The patriarch arrived well off but it was his son and nephew who made their fortunes in Paris. The building that is now a museum was constructed as both a home and museum by Camondo fils, meant to show off what he loved and devoted his later life to collecting: decorative arts of the 18th and 19th century. He was devastated when his son died prematurely and his daughter showed no interest in his passion and left the house as soon as she married. Nissim de Camondo died just before WWII at which point the house was donated to the French state. But his daughter and her children being Jewish, and in spite of their generous gift of the Camondo house, were rounded up and perished under the Nazis. As always intended, Nissim de Camondo's home became a museum and one that we both thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Musée Cernuschi

Musée Cernuschi

The Musée Cernuschi opened after a complete refurbishment during our stay in Paris. The 19th century mansion was gutted and transformed into a very modern museum space with little remaining of the original beautiful interior of the house. The once private collection of asian art and artifacts is small but impressive. Still, Jan thought it a shame that they had to destroy what must have been a beautiful interior.

Musée Cognacq-Jay

Musée Cognacq-Jay

We had visited this house on our previous stay in Paris and just couldn't resist taking another peek. Happily nothing had changed.

Hôtel Salé - Musée Picasso

Hôtel Salé - Musée Picasso

Hôtel Salé - Musée Picasso

Hôtel Salé - Musée Picasso

We had both visited the Picasso shortly after it opened in the 1990's and were both impressed by it. This time, however, Jan decided that having seen a Picasso collection in Berlin that had both repelled and irritated her, she would let Gerry make a return visit without her.