Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A Stroll Through the 9th



A jewel of the 9th district, the Parisian home of the French Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau [1826 -1898] is located at 14 rue de la Rochefoucauld, hidden away in the Nouvelle Athènes neighborhood. One could often walk by without noticing this extraordinary museum since the heavy doors appear to be always closed.
The second story is actually the painter's old workshop, built in 1895. There are broad windows and a high ceiling framing the room. The third story, connected by a remarkable spiraling staircase, leads to the second workshop of the artist.
The walls are completely covered with oversized paintings of more than two hundred biblical and mythological characters.