Orsay: Architecture

The 19th century was an extraordinarily fertile period for French architecture. Public and private commissions poured in, virtually creating a modern Paris in about thirty years. International exhibitions inspired the most compelling projects, giving huge scope to aspiring architects. The Musee D'Orsay gives as much emphasis to its architectural displays as it does to paintings and sculpture. It houses nearly 18,000 examples of architectural planning in the form of models and drawings, the most prestigious being those for Eiffel and Guimard. This title, the first to be published on the architectural displays at Orsay, presents 100 highlights of this extraordinary collection.