A jewel box of beauty, a nest of monuments and a stage for many scenes of life, Paris has amazed more than one of its visitors. As for the artists, the city has provided them with an almost infinite source of inspiration, and they’ve paid it back in spades! Over the years, numerous paintings of the capital have been classified as masterpieces. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the most beautiful paintings in Paris.
The Moulin de la Galette Ball – Renoir
A must-see, the painting depicts a typical scene of the period, namely a dancing guinguette in front of the mythical Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre, probably the Paris neighborhood most represented by painters of all eras.
Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral under the snow – Galien-Laloue
Eugène Galien-Laloue may not sound like a household name, but he’s one of those who best paid tribute to the Paris of the Belle Époque. The creator of numerous paintings of the capital, he admired every district, every street and every monument. Notre-Dame passed under his brush on several occasions, sometimes giving rise to superb paintings.
Liberty guiding the people – Delacroix
Delacroix’s painting has become a symbol of the Republic, and now resides in the Louvre. Inspired by the Trois Glorieuses revolution, the scene takes place in Paris. The towers of Notre-Dame can be seen in the background!
Le Moulin de Blute-Fin – Van Gogh
When Van Gogh was a Montmartre native, he painted a host of pictures inspired by his neighborhood. Among these, the series on the Moulin de Blute-Fin (or Moulin de la Galette) has become emblematic of his time in Paris.
La Gare Saint-Lazare – Monet
In 1877, Monet chose to present his series on the Gare Saint-Lazare at the Impressionist exhibition. Highly inspired by the theme of technical progress, he thus depicts the Parisian location in twelve separate paintings.
Boulevard Montmartre, Night Effect – Pissarro
Also produced in series, Pissarro’s Boulevard Montmartre canvases show this stretch of Paris at different times of the day. While all the canvases are superb, our preference is for the night-time version of the track.
Rue Saint-Denis, June 30, 1878 – Monet
When Monet strolled through the streets of Paris on a festive day, he couldn’t resist getting out his camera and capturing the moment. The June 30, 1878 celebrations were no exception. Inspired by the movements and colors of flags, he produced one of the most colorful paintings in his oeuvre.
