Dive into East Asia through an exceptional collection of Asian art housed in a splendid historic mansion.
Description
Musee Cernuschi, Paris’ second-oldest museum dedicated to Asian arts, opened its doors in 1898 thanks to Henri Cernuschi, a wealthy banker and avid traveler. Housed in his Neoclassical mansion designed by William Bouwens van der Boijen, the venue offers a deep dive into East Asia.
The main floor showcases the spectacular Meguro Buddha, a monumental bronze brought from Japan, surrounded by collections of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese arts. A layout redesigned in 2020 allows visitors to better appreciate masterpieces like archaic bronzes, Neolithic jades, Tang and Song ceramics, Japanese prints, or the nearly 12‑meter-high sculpted dragons unveiled in 2023.
The museum also offers a rich program: temporary exhibitions (e.g. modern Indochinese art, contemporary Japanese ceramics), children’s workshops, calligraphy, lacquer art, guided visits, and an auditorium hosting up to 300 people.
The ambiance is elegant, intellectual, and serene: the audience includes art lovers, curious families, students, researchers, and international travelers. The refined mansion and adjoining gardens by Parc Monceau offer a quiet retreat ideal for reflection.
Fun fact: the Meguro Buddha comes from a temple destroyed by fire near Tokyo; dismantled and brought to Paris in 1871, it epitomizes the Japonism that fascinated the Impressionists.
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