Eugène Delacroix, the artist in his home

"The sight of my little garden and the smiling aspect of my studio always gives me a feeling of pleasure." Thus spoke Eugène Delacroix, the leading artist of the French Romantic school of painters, and when you discover this secret haven off the Place de Furstenberg, you can fully understand why he thought so highly of his home. Discovered by his friend, the painting supplies dealer and art conservationist, Etienne Haro, this peaceful and quaint apartment was the last home of this renowned painter. Quietly, so close and yet so far from the busy Boulevard Saint Germain, Eugène Delacroix lived here until his death in 1863. Later, thanks to the keen interest of various artists and intellectuals, the house was preserved and donated to the French government on the understanding that it would become a public museum, which it did in 1971. Today the museum is a treasure trove of major paintings, studies for paintings, art objects from North Africa, and the memories and artefacts of Delacroix. This place out of time became a Maison des Illustres in January 2016. Don’t miss this wonderful Parisian museum. JR.

Musée National Eugène Delacroix, 6 Rue de Furstenberg, Paris 6th

Open daily from 9:30 to 17:30. Closed on Tuesdays.

Tel. 01 44 41 86 50 and www.musee-delacroix.fr

Photo: The studio and the garden of the museum - Musée du Louvre / Antoine Mongodin