Luxembourg Museum: One of the best small museums in Paris happens to be in one of my favorite locations in Paris – next to the Luxembourg Gardens. Over the years I have been privileged to be in town during several important exhibitions. The Chagall and Cézanne exhibitions were truly amazing. The intimate environment in the museum makes a visit there extra special. Either before or after visiting, walk around the back and relax in the beautiful gardens.

Chagall Exhibition

Last year, I was caught trying to take a Cézanne in the exhibition at The Musée du Luxembourg and was threatened with jail (read story below), last month I was caught trying to take a Chagall at the Luxembourg Chagall Exhibition. I just can’t help myself when it comes to art in Paris. The Cézanne was a complete mistake because I had been snapping photos at museums for years (sans flash) and did not realize that the Cézanne Exhibit Between War and Peace was off-limits to photographs.

The Chagall was a different story. I asked if I could take photos when I entered the exhibition and the docent sitting in the corner said, “Oui!” I swear that is all she said. There was no “attention” to the notices or anything, just a simple “yes” that I could take snapshots. People were clicking away at the paintings to I began to as well. Only after I took one particular photo did a security officer come over to chastise me. “Deja-vu” I thought and felt a little tear pricking at my eye. Am I on a security watch list I began to wonder? I just knew that Cézanne thing would come back to haunt me.

The security guard immediately broke into his best English and told me everything was ok and I should not worry, it’s just that a few pieces have a request to not be photographed. He pointed to a little sign next to the piece in question with a petit camera with an X through it. I offered to erase the image off my camera and handed it to him. He laughed and said it was no problem, just pay more attention. He could not have been sweeter!

Lessons learned: one was to ask if you can take photos, lesson two was to read each and every exhibit entry description and look for the camera symbol. I already adhere to, and always have, the no flash rule to preserve the colors for generations to come. The moral of the story for my readers, “Do as I say, not as I do” and you will be just fine!

The exhibit was incredible and sadly it finished a few days ago, but you can still see Chagall’s best work on the ceiling of the Paris Opera House at the Palais Garnier. It is breathtaking!

Cézanne Exhibition

The art scene in Paris is addictive. Like most addicts, it is difficult for me to be satisfied merely viewing an amazing piece because I want to touch what the masters have touched to try to be closer to the essence of the piece. Most times I have to walk with my hands behind my back to prevent myself from giving in to temptation. I was very close to a sculpture in the Louvre many years ago and the docent screamed at me from across the room like I had just shot her mother. I wasn’t going to touch it; I was merely tracing the form with my hands, but I have to admit that I wanted to touch it. Heck, I wanted to shove it in my purse and bring it home, but I didn’t did I?

My visit to the Musée du Luxembourg with Gal Pal Lisa started out so innocently. I went with her to check out the latest Cézanne exhibition. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. We arrived just as the museum was opening, purchased our tickets and made a bee-line for Cézanne.

Winding my way around the maze of small galleries that showcased some of Cézanne’s best masterpieces, I was minding my own business when Monsieur Security Man showed up. He spoke sternly to me accusing me of, “Taking a Cézanne.” I said, “No, I was not trying to take a Cézanne.” His response came with a stern warning, “Do not lie to me. I have been watching you and you were you trying to take a Cézanne!” I was flabbergasted, thinking what the heck is he talking about, but then realized he was not really angry with me, he was just enjoying scaring the crap out of me. Suddenly it dawned on me what he was referring to and so I laughed and answered honestly, “I am so sorry. Yes, I was trying to take a Cézanne.” He then instructed me to go with him, but now he was grinning from ear to ear. I knew then that I would not be incarcerated, but rather helped by this rather good-looking security man to make amends. For yes, indeed, I was trying to take a PHOTO of a Cézanne. Without a flash, but definitely snapping away because I did not realize this exhibition was not allowing photography of any kind. I guess I was so wrapped up in the excitement that I assumed it was the same as the other museums in Paris where you can take photos, just without flash.

Monsieur sweetly brought me over to a corner as to not embarrass me, overlooked my shoulder whilst I deleted photos, and told me nicely to enjoy the show. Whew! No burning at the stake or beheading in my near future, I refocused and spent the rest of my time viewing with my hands behind my back and the camera tucked safely away in my purse.

Monsieur might have had the first laugh, but I had the last one because when I returned to the hotel that night, I realized that I had turned the camera off before the deletion had completed of the last photo in the series I had taken. My apologies to him, the Musée du Luxembourg and Cézanne, but I am thrilled that one survived! OMD (Oh Mon Dieu) am I now banned from all museums in Paris?!

Musée du Luxembourg