Musée Bourdelle

Overview

Tucked away in the Montparnasse district, the Musée Bourdelle offers a spectacular, monumental immersion into the world of sculpture. It beautifully preserves the original, highly atmospheric studios and gardens of Antoine Bourdelle, one of the giants of early 20th-century art.

Highlights

• The Great Hall: A jaw-dropping, incredibly dramatic, naturally lit brick hall filled with gigantic, towering plaster casts of Bourdelle's monumental public works.
• The Original Studio: Left exactly as it was upon the artist's death in 1929, complete with his tools, armatures, and half-finished clay models.
• The Sculpture Gardens: Quiet, highly romantic brick courtyards densely packed with striking bronze and stone statues.

History

Antoine Bourdelle worked as Auguste Rodin's primary assistant for 15 years before breaking away and developing his own, highly distinct, much more muscular and architectural style. The museum was created explicitly according to his wishes, preserving the complex of modest 19th-century studios where he worked for the final 45 years of his life.

Visitor Tips

• Cost: Access to the vast permanent collection and the studios is completely free.
• Atmosphere: Highly recommended for those who found the Musée Rodin too crowded; Bourdelle offers a similarly profound sculptural experience with a fraction of the tourists.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.