The unique collection of art at the Musee Jacquemart-Andre Museum in Paris

The Musee Jacquemart-Andre is within a palace mansion which was built during the 19th century on the street Boulevard Haussmann for Edouard Andre, which holds and showcases many pieces of art he and his wife, Nelie Jacquemart, collected through their life.

Edouard Andre was a banker and heir to a protestant banking family fortune, and yet spent his money on collecting works of art. After marrying Nelie Jacquemart who happened to be a French portrait artist, they both collected numerous works, which led to a vast amount of art from all over the world.

The Musee Jacquemart-Andre museum is much smaller than other well known places such as Chateau de Versailles or the Chantilly castle, but on that note it is also more personal. Having been a place to hold parties for the high society of the day, allowing them to admire many of the works which were collected in the mansion.

Once Nelie Jacquemart passed away she left the estate and collections to the Institut de France, so that the house could be turned to a museum for everyone to enjoy and appreciate the various arts they had gained. But even from there, the history of the museum is an interesting read.

The arts collected range from many different eras, places and people from Italian Renaissance art, French master pieces from the 18th century, art by Flemish masters and various pieces of furniture. But it also includes the panelling, frescos, ceiling paintings and even an impressive winter garden, which are just some of the fantastic things you can see at this often over looked museum in Paris.

But forgetting the impressive collection, there are also souvenirs and objet d'art which were part of their private collections which give this museum a more homely and personal feel rather than the more larger and seemingly more royal palaces that Paris has to offer such as The Louvre.

Each of the rooms at the Musee Jacquemart-Andre tells a unique story, but if you do want a rest you can always visit the tea room called the Jacquemart-Andre Cafe, which is located in the original dining room with an amazing Tiepolo ceiling, so this museum in Paris offers you to experience a typical Parisian mansion house which was owned by dedicated art collectors, yet in addition to the permanent exhibitions there are also temporary ones held here every so often as well.

Also found close to the famous Champs Elysees Avenue and the Arc de Triomphe, within the 8th Arrondissement of Paris it is one of the few museums open nearly every day of the year, not including National French holidays.

Typically open from 10am until 6pm, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre museum also accounts for when there are temporary exhibitions on and gives two late night visits a week until 9pm on a Monday and Saturday.

But not forgetting there is also a gift shop which opens at the same times as the museum, and the Jacquemart-Andre Cafe in Paris opens each day although not at the same times, yet both of these are accessible without having to tour the museum.

And by entering the museum you also are provided with a free audio guide which can be available in many languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Japanese and Russian. Which also showcases the history of the Musee Jacquemart-Andre and the permanent collections including information on the Second French Empire.

As you enter, a picture gallery can be seen in an anti chamber which allows people to view the decorative works, landscapes and still lifes where the variety can be viewed all around with high quality works. But also the numerous paintings from the 18th century are just as impressive, which both Edouard and Nelie loved, having collected two oval compositions by Francois Boucher and much more before you enter the Grand Salon.

The Grand Salon, a semi-circular shape which have admirable golden panelling, paintings on the ceilings, over the doors, unique furniture, antique objects and even including decorative arts, it is a one of a kind elegant yet sophisticated room.

The music room, and the upper gallery is where the couple would set up musicians when they were holding one of their functions, but it was also a room which held dark wood furniture and dark red walls, which was typical of the French Second empire.

Not forgetting the many paintings which hang on the walls, an architectural caprice by Panini, a breathtaking ceiling painting by well known and renowned Pierre-Victor Galland, and portraits made by Perronneau.

The winter garden is also another spectacular place to venture into, located behind the music room and under a glass roof which holds exotic plants for a more relaxed time. Yet surprising there is an impressive double helic monumental staircase which is decorated with sculptures, which has turned this area of the Musee Jacquemart-Andre into the Gallery of antiques.

And yet those are only the state apartments as there are more rooms at the Jacquemart-Andre museum to discover, like the informal ones used for the day to day lives of the couple, featuring everything from a Tapestry room, a room filled with their favourite objects and a fresco by Giambattista Tiepolo which came from a Venetian palace, a library and even a smoking room which has a blown glass enamelled lamp from the 14th century and various paintings.

The private rooms include that of Nelie's and Edouard's rooms which contain many personal objects as well as personal objects, family portraits and all which give an insight to how people lived.

So as you can tell, the Jacquemart-Andre Museum is something unusual and not too formal compared to other well known and famous French museums, allowing you to visit and explore at your own leisure for an incredible experience while on holiday in Paris.