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In 1862, the renowned painter Gustave Moreau, aged 36 at the time, pondered over the fate of his paintings after his demise. He expressed, “Separated they would perish, but taken together they give some idea of what sort of artist I was and the world I liked to dream in.”
Although Moreau lived for another 36 years, he continued to hold onto the idea of keeping the majority of his work intact. It proved to be a wise decision as he went on to become one of the most celebrated Symbolist painters. His technical expertise, influenced by the Italian masters, combined with his intricate depictions of mythical and biblical subjects, resonated with the public during the latter half of the 19th century. He received medals in prestigious salons and exhibitions in the US, UK, and France, and sold over 400 works, primarily to private collectors.
Moreau worked in his parents’ Parisian townhouse located in the 9th arrondissement, just a 15-minute walk from the Opéra. After his mother’s passing in 1884, he preserved her rooms on the first floor. In 1895, he expanded and enhanced the house to create two expansive exhibition spaces on the upper floors.
Upon his death in 1898, Moreau bequeathed the house, along with approximately 15,000 of his paintings and drawings, to the French government with the stipulation that they be kept together and displayed in accordance with his vision. The museum opened its doors in 1903, and despite Symbolism falling out of favor, it continued to attract visitors, with annual numbers reaching around 40,000 prior to the Covid lockdowns.
His revival started with the Surrealists, who recognized the extraordinary nature of his paintings. Salvador Dalí and André Breton
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