Paris, France - Picasso Museum

When Picasso, the great 20th century artist, died in 1973, his vast private collection of works was donated to France by his family, largely in lieu of massive inheritance tax bills. This museum was subsequently created by the state in his memory.

An overwhelming collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and ceramics created by the artist is on display in this renovated 17th-century mansion, the Hotel Sale, in the heart of historic Paris. The museum tells the story of how Picasso, who was born in 1881 and began studying art some 14 years later, learned and developed his skills.

The choice of the elegant Hotel Sale as the location for the museum, considered to be one of the finest houses in the Marais, was the subject of some debate after a competition was held to find a suitable place to display Picasso's modernistic work. Roland Simounet's inspired combination of the elegant interior of the building with modern display techniques emerged the winner. The mansion has since been restored by Bernard Vitry and Bernard Fonquernie of the Monuments Historiques organisation between 1974 and 1980, and again in 1985.

The museum contains documents and photographs relating to Picasso's life, in addition to his own artistic output, and private collection. Picasso favoured contemporaries such as the post-Impressionist Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse, whose paintings he bought to add to his collection. Matisse also owned works by Degas, Rousseau, Seurat and de Chirico.

A second-floor area houses temporary exhibitions and there is a library on the third floor. This a fascinating stop on any art lover's sightseeing agenda.

The Picasso Museum
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