Famous works of French museums
Selection of paintings, sculptures, and art objects among the best known in public collections in France. Each record includes image, technique, and the preserving museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
Among the most famous: the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo at the Louvre, The Luncheon on the Grass and Water Lilies at the Musée d'Orsay, The Thinker at the Rodin Museum, the Bayeux Tapestry.
Digitized images are available via the Joconde database (data.culture.gouv.fr). On DellArte, each artwork record displays the image when available.
The Mona Lisa is exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris, in the State Rooms (Denon Wing, 1st Floor). Access is included in the admission ticket (17 euros, free for visitors under 18).
The Venus de Milo and the Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre, The Thinker and The Kiss by Rodin, the bronzes at the Musée d'Orsay.
The Musée d'Orsay holds the largest Impressionist collection in the world: Monet's Water Lilies, Manet's The Luncheon on the Grass, Renoir's Bal du moulin de la Galette.
Most allow photography without flash in permanent collections. Temporary exhibitions may prohibit it. Tripods and selfie sticks are generally prohibited.
Museums preserve works dating back to prehistory: Egyptian and Mesopotamian antiquities at the Louvre, collections at the Musée de l'Homme, Gallo-Roman mosaics.
The Centre Pompidou in Paris has the largest modern and contemporary art collection in Europe. FRAC exhibitions are present in every region.
Works whose author died over 70 years ago are in the public domain in France. Their images can be freely reused when the museum publishes them under an open license.
DellArte allows browsing over 300,000 records with digitized images. Several museums offer virtual tours on their official websites.