France: A Paradise for Art Lovers
France, birthplace of revolutionary artistic movements and home to legendary masters, is a paradise for art lovers. From the bustling streets of Paris to the quieter corners of historic provinces, the country offers a rich diversity of art galleries that capture the essence of its vibrant culture.
In this article, we will explore the best art galleries in France, places where history and modernity intertwine to provide unique and inspiring experiences. Join us on this journey through the temples of art that define and celebrate French beauty and creativity.
The best art galleries in France
The art galleries in France are rich in history. They cover artistic traditions ranging from the medieval, Renaissance, and Impressionist periods to modern and contemporary.
Our list of the best art galleries in France will allow you to experience the finest works by artists such as Louis Le Lain, Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, and Pierre-August Renoir.
Pablo Picasso, a renowned master of 20th-century art born in Spain, but who practiced his art mainly in France, is also celebrated in many galleries throughout France.
Take note of our list of art galleries and spend the day learning all about their history in France.
Didier Aaron
Didier Aaron has exhibited the best artworks of the 17th and 19th centuries since 1923. In addition to its location in Paris, Didier Aaron has established a presence in New York and London.
H. Aaron is the president of Didier Aaron and its creative director is B. Demarest.
Currently, Didier Aaron hosts brilliant paintings by Louis-Leopold Boilly, Jean-Baptiste Mallet, Jacques Stella, Isidore-Alexandre-Augustin Pils, Nicholas Colombel, Giovanni Francesco Romanelli, Reynaud Levieux, Francois Andre Vincent, and Alexandre Evariste Fragonard.
Didier Aaron and its 3 art galleries are active participants in the international art scene. The gallery is a staple at TEFAF Maastricht, TEFAF New York, Fine Art Paris, Salon du Dessin, and Frieze Masters in London.
Address: 118, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
Eric Coatalem Gallery
The Eric Coatalem Gallery opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1986. It showcases the best works of prominent French artists from the 17th to the 20th century. Since 1994, the gallery has participated in various art exhibitions such as the Biennale and Salon du Dessin in Paris and TEFAF Maastricht in New York.
Among the historical exhibitions hosted by the gallery are those of Lubin Baugin, George-Augustus Wallis, Francois Perrier, Louise Moillon, Gustav Klimt, and Hubert Robert, to name a few.
A visit to the Eric Coatalem Gallery today will leave you amazed by the following masterpieces of French fine arts: Aurore Withholding Cephalus by Philippe de Champaigne, Biche on the Lookout by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, and Hercules and Athena by Lawrence of La Hyre.
Address: 93, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
G. Sarti Gallery
The G. Sarti Gallery has been in the business of Italian fine arts for over 40 years. The gallery started in London before finally moving to Paris in 1996, near the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
The gallery specializes in Italian paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries. It is worth noting that the G. Sarti Gallery is the only gallery accredited by the Conseil National des Experts Specializes (CNES) in art from the 13th to the 15th centuries. A day at G. Sarti means admiring paintings by Paris Bordone, Jusepe de Ribera, Giovani Cariani, Giovani dal Ponte, Luca Signorelli, Sano di Pietro, Gherardo Starnina, Niccolo da Voltri, Horace Riminaldi, Pietro Cavaro, Onofrio Palumbo, and Andrea di Nerio, among others.
Address: 137 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
Maison d'Art Gallery
Maison d'Art was founded in 1997 and, along with the Pierro Corsini group, has helped the most prestigious museums in Paris and around the world acquire some of the best works of art. The curator of Maison d'Art is Marietta Vinci-Corsini.
The museums and galleries that have benefited from the expertise of Maison d'Art include the Louvre in Paris, the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Moreover, Maison d'Art has participated in some of the most distinguished exhibitions in the world, such as TEFAF in Maastricht, the Bienales d'Antiquaires in Paris and Florence, and the Moscow World Fine Art Fair.
Maison d'Art presents works from various traditions in art. Among the artists featured are Nicholas Baudeson, Jan Van Noordt, Pietro Rotari, and Paris Bordone (Old Masters), Marc Chagall, Robert Falk, Claude Monet, and Henri Matisse (Modern).
Address: The Park Palace, 27, Avenue de la Costa, Monte Carlo, France
Opera Gallery
Gilles Dyan founded the Opera Gallery in 1994. Since then, the Opera Gallery has become one of the leading international distributors of modern and contemporary art.
Over the years, the Opera Gallery has provided access to some of the best representations of modern and contemporary art from renowned figures such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Jean Michel Basquiat, Jean Dubuffet, Alexander Calder, and Manolo Valdés.
In addition to Valdés, the gallery also supports emerging contemporary artists such as Andre Brasilier, Lita Cabellut, Andy Denzler, Joe Black, David Kim Whitaker, and Mike Dargas.
Address: 356, rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
Applicat-Prazan
A longtime art collector, Bernard Prazan, decided to turn his passion into a business and Applicat-Prazan was born.
It was the year 1989, but Prazan relocated the gallery in 1993 to its current location near the Rue de Seine on the Left Bank of Paris.
In 2004, management of the gallery passed to Bernard's son, Franck. A second location was established in 2010 on the Right Bank at 14th Avenue.
The gallery is dedicated to emphasizing the works of Karel Appel, Jean-Rene Bazaine, Camille Bryen, Jean Dubuffet, Zao Wou-Ki, Gerard Schneider, Georges Mathieu, Hans Hartung, and Pierre Soulages.
Applicat-Prazan has joined the most esteemed art exhibitions, such as TEFAF Maastricht, Art Basel in Hong Kong, TEFAF New York, Art Basel in Switzerland, Frieze Masters, FIAC, and Art Basel in Miami Beach.
Address: 16 rue de Seine, Paris, France
Brame & Lorenceau
As their name indicates, Brame & Lorenceau is the result of the merger of 2 of the leading galleries in 1863. The gallery moved to its current location at 68 Boulevard in 1921.
Brame & Lorenceau has established itself as one of the most respected providers of French fine arts from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Over time, the gallery also built its reputation by showcasing the best works of masters in the styles of Cubism and Abstractionism.
Notable exhibitions held at the gallery include Rodin (2006), Alexander Calder (2008 and 2014), Gaston Chaissac (2011), and Olivier Debre (2013). Brame & Lorenceau also regularly participate in TEFAF Maastricht, Salon du Dessin, and La Biennale Paris.
Address: 68 Boulevard Malesherbe, Paris, France
Presidential Gallery
Galerie de la Presidence is a family art gallery founded by Francoise Chibret-Plaussu in 1971.
Almost 30 years after the gallery first opened its doors to the public, Francoise's daughter, Florence, got involved in its operations. Florence remains the curator of the gallery.
The expertise of Galerie de la Presidence lies in the works of the old masters of the 20th century.
You will find masterpieces by luminaries such as Eugene Boudin, Henri-Edmonde Cross, Jean Dubuffet, Andre Derain, Raoul Dufy, Marcel Gromaire, Henri Matisse, Paul Signac, and Geer Van Velde.
The gallery also showcases works by outstanding figurative artists from the 1950s, such as Bernard Buffet, Michel de Gallard, Francis Gruber, and Andre Marchand.
Galerie de la Presidence has remained actively involved in the art scene. The gallery regularly lends or organizes exhibitions at the following museums: Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Montmartre Museum, Brayer Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, Impressionism Museum, and Barberini Museum in Potsdam, and Paul Dini Museum.
Address: 90, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
Fleury Gallery
Christian Fleury, a member of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires, established the Galerie Fleury as an exhibition space for the best works in the traditions of modern, post-war, and contemporary art.
The gallery exhibits the finest paintings by acclaimed artists such as Marc Chagall, Sonia Delaunay, Max Ernst, Albert Gleizes, August Herbin, Karel Appel, Maurice Esteve, Sam Francis, Geer Van Velde, Hans Hartung, and Maria Helena Viera Da Silva.
Gallerie Fleury actively participates in the most important exhibitions in the world of fine arts. These exhibitions include Brafa Art Fair in Brussels, La Biennale in Paris, PAD in Paris, Art Paris Art Fair, PAD in London, and Feriarte.
Address: 36 av. Matignon, Paris, France
La Forest Divonne Gallery
Galerie La Forest Divonne was founded by Marie-Hélène de la Forest Divonne in 1988. Originally, the gallery was called Galerie Vielle du Temps.
The name changed when Marie-Hélène moved the gallery to its current location on rue des Beaux Arts in 2015. Marie-Hélène opened a second gallery in Brussels in 2016, currently run by her son, Jean de Malherbe.
To date, the gallery has represented the works of the following artists: Bruno Albizatti, Gilles Altieri, Philippe Borderieux, Pierre Buraglio, Guy de Malherbe, Anna Mark, Vincent Bioules, Jerome Byron, and Jeff Kowatch.
Galerie La Forest Divonne has regularly showcased its collection in a series of high-profile exhibitions. These venues include Art Paris Art Fair, YIA Art Fair, London's Global Art Fair, Pampelon Art, Zurcher Fair, Salon Galerists, and Volta in New York City.
Address: 12 rue des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
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