Context brings the brightest minds to your living room with perspective-shifting online lectures.

Paris' Musée d'Orsay: Highlighting French Impressionism with Laurent Bonneval
Paris' Musée d'Orsay: Highlighting French Impressionism with Laurent Bonneval

Paris' Musée d'Orsay: Highlighting French Impressionism with Laurent Bonneval


No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.

How did a Paris train station become the mecca of Impressionism? This question summarizes the incredible transformation undergone in the early 1980s by an abandoned train station in the heart of the City of Light. First inaugurated for the 1900 world trade fair, the building is typical of this transitional period: a carved limestone envelope around a structure of riveted iron beams. Turning it into a museum was no easy task, but the stunning result is that it now hosts the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, as well as sculptures by the period’s most appraised artists such as Rodin, Carpeaux, Camille Claudel, and Maillol.

The period covered by the d’Orsay collections is key to the canon of French and global art history. During our conversation, we will journey from 1848 and the rise of modernist emperor Napoleon III to 1918 and the end of WWI. This period witnessed the birth of impressionism and its evolution towards modern art. Manet, Monet, Renoir, and later Van Gogh and Gauguin kept re-inventing the codes of Art. All of them lived in Paris, and knew, and often influenced each other. From this creative melting pot, a revolution in art was born.
Before you go there, there are a certain number of things you need to know to find your way. What new ideas and practices in painting led to impressionism, and how redefining colors and shapes gave artists unprecedented freedom. How the massive audience they reached in exhibitions gave them a political dimension and a perfume of scandal, and why their eager quest for new models took them so far away from their native land. All these questions are key to understanding this thriving artistic period and to make the most of your exploration of the d’Orsay collections.

After graduating in law and business, Laurent spent the first twenty years of his career managing international sales for an advertising company. But his passion for art and history took over and he eventually passed a master's in Art History and the Art Market, as well as obtaining his official license as a “guide-conférencier”. A Parisian for over 25 years now, he has an in-depth knowledge of the city and its treasures. His objective? Making art and history come to life! He loves strolling around the city and its museums tracking the history and meaning of monuments and artworks alike.

This lecture is not suitable for children.

60 minutes

Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
94%
(16)
6%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
C. L. (Atlanta, US)
Sparkling overview

A superbly organized analysis of impressionism and its context and influence, illuminated by the collection of the Musee d'Orsay, plus some fun facts about the train station. A perfect combination of major themes and interesting details.

B
Brenda Lorentzen (New York, US)
An excellent lecture

I really enjoyed this lecture. The speaker is knowledgeable, of course, but presented the information in a very accessible, interesting way. I learned a lot (and I already knew some about impressionist painting) and spent a very enjoyable hour.

R
RK (Tirana, AL)
Absolutely Fantastic Lecture

One of the best art history lectures I've ever had the pleasure of watching! The lecturer balanced explanations and discussions of artistic technique with contextualizing the political, social, and technological history behind each shift in modern art. A ton of fascinating information, I'm absolutely thrilled I took this lecture before going to France!

D
Dean Loehr (Lubbock, US)
Very Enjoyable Seminar

Monsieur Bonneval is very knowledgeable and provides a very interesting session about the art history of impressionism. I look forward to viewing future talks from him.

J
J.K. (Washington, US)
A Wide Ranging and Enjoyable Art Lecture

Using the collection -- and history -- of the Musee d'Orsay as a starting point, Mr. Bonneval puts impressionism in an interesting historical context beginning in the 1600's and continuing into the 20th century. You're bound to learn things you never new before.

Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
94%
(16)
6%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
C. L. (Atlanta, US)
Sparkling overview

A superbly organized analysis of impressionism and its context and influence, illuminated by the collection of the Musee d'Orsay, plus some fun facts about the train station. A perfect combination of major themes and interesting details.

B
Brenda Lorentzen (New York, US)
An excellent lecture

I really enjoyed this lecture. The speaker is knowledgeable, of course, but presented the information in a very accessible, interesting way. I learned a lot (and I already knew some about impressionist painting) and spent a very enjoyable hour.

R
RK (Tirana, AL)
Absolutely Fantastic Lecture

One of the best art history lectures I've ever had the pleasure of watching! The lecturer balanced explanations and discussions of artistic technique with contextualizing the political, social, and technological history behind each shift in modern art. A ton of fascinating information, I'm absolutely thrilled I took this lecture before going to France!

D
Dean Loehr (Lubbock, US)
Very Enjoyable Seminar

Monsieur Bonneval is very knowledgeable and provides a very interesting session about the art history of impressionism. I look forward to viewing future talks from him.

J
J.K. (Washington, US)
A Wide Ranging and Enjoyable Art Lecture

Using the collection -- and history -- of the Musee d'Orsay as a starting point, Mr. Bonneval puts impressionism in an interesting historical context beginning in the 1600's and continuing into the 20th century. You're bound to learn things you never new before.